FAQs

What is the purpose of each petition?

We are petitioning City Council to preserve in its natural state and in perpetuity land north and south of
Transmountain Road on the west side of the mountain next to the Franklin Mountain State Park. Should
City Council fail to preserve this land or should the Mayor veto an ordinance to preserve, then we will
petition that the ordinance that we seek be put to the voters of El Paso in a special election.

A second petition includes our desire that no major roadways be built through this land. Currently,
TxDOT (the Texas Department of Transportation) seeks to build a major interchange with the planned
arterial, Paseo del Norte, at Transmountain. Paseo del Norte will be 6 lanes – the size of Mesa Street!
Like commercial or residential development in the Scenic Corridor, Paseo del Norte will destroy the
natural beauty that we wish to preserve. In addition, unless the land is preserved in perpetuity, the
roadway may give cause for future Councils to change the zoning again to allow for development. Major
arterials such as Paseo del Norte more often than not lead to development as much as a mile on either
side.

Why is there an additional petition adding the prevention of a major roadway?

We think that preserving the land in its natural state will prevent any construction of a major roadway.
However, since TxDOT is currently completing a process of environmental assessment to present to the
public, your petition will be important input to them during the public process.

What is a better plan for Paseo del Norte?

Move it just a bit west to the proposed Plexxar interchange. Currently Paseo del Norte begins on the
east side of I-10. On the west side it is known as Artcraft.

What exactly are we preserving and why?

The actual legal description of the land is on both petitions. It is commonly called the West
Transmountain Scenic Corridor or just the Scenic Transmountain Corridor. It is land owned by the City of
El Paso just east of the Natural Gas Pipeline Road. The land is rising between there and the mountain
and becomes steeper hills and deeper arroyos. It is a natural habitat for many animals and plants. This
corridor is the last such scenic corridor in El Paso. The actual area is less than 800 acres and can be seen
on the attached map.
How will this petition become an initiative in a special election?

Section 3.11 (Initiative) of the City Charter sets forth the process for moving a citizen initiative to the
ballot.

First we must gather at least 1,547 signatures of registered El Paso voters. That number is 5% of the
total number of voters in the last general City of El Paso election. That election occurred in May of 2009
when a total of 30,943 people voted.

Second, we must first petition City Council to pass our ordinance. If they fail to do so, or if the Mayor
vetoes such an ordinance, then we can petition for a special election. We need the same number of
registered El Paso voters for that election.

I’m a registered voter but I either was not registered in May 2009 or I did not vote in that election.
Can I still sign the petition?

Yes! As long as you are a registered voter or have applied to be a registered voter, you can sign the
petition.

I have not registered to vote. If I do so now, how soon can I sign the petition?

After filling in a voter registration form, wait at least five (5) days before signing the petition.

By the way, you can become a Deputy Voter Registrar and register voters. Go to the County Election
Bureau, Room L115 in the lower level of the County Court House, 500 E. San Antonio, El Paso, Texas
79901 and ask for the forms. It only takes few minutes. They are open 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Mon – Fri
and do not close for lunch. Their phone is 915-546-2154.

I think that we do need to widen Transmountain on the west side of the mountains from 2 lanes to 4.
Won’t this prevent that?

Not at all. The road can be widened at grade from the Natural Gas Pipeline Road. West of that road, it
can be widened using the current TxDOT freeway plan although we hope other suitable alternative plans
be considered as well. Preserving this land will not put the current $80 million TxDOT project in
jeopardy.

In his form letter to many who have emailed him and in his online newsletter, the Mayor says that if the
land is preserved, Transmountain cannot be widened through that preserved area. Actually, the land
manager, the Public Service Board, has already guaranteed an easement to TxDOT to allow such
widening in exchange for some conduits under the road.
Who owns this land now? The PSB?

The land is public land owned by the City of El Paso. The PSB is the land manager for the City. By Texas
State law, the PSB cannot own land – it can only manage it. Maps describing the land as PSB land are
really misleading.

I hear that the PSB has said that selling this land will mean keeping my water and sewer rates low. Is
that true?

Actually not. In the last 10 years, the PSB has sold land for an average income of $3.5 million per year –
not enough to keep your rates low. The PSB/EPWU is very good at water management and it is that
management and what all rate payers pay that have kept the rates low.

Keep in mind that developed land means more demand on your taxes for services such as schools,
police, fire, roads and road maintenance, not to mention the new water and sewer infrastructure and
maintenance costs that you will pay for.

Also keep in mind, that as more and more land is developed, there will be more demand on the scarce
supply of water in the El Paso region. Ultimately, such out of control development is unsustainable. It is
very important that we preserve the natural beauty of areas such as the Scenic Transmountain Corridor
as open space in perpetuity.

How can I help?

Get your friends and family members who are registered voters and residents of El Paso to sign the
petition. Go door to door or gather signatures at your work place, church or other organizational
meeting. We can provide you with additional petition forms along with copies of the FAQs and map to
assist you in gathering signatures. Set a goal to get at least 20 signatures. Where to return the
completed forms and by when is mentioned on the Instruction sheet.