There was a rare moment at City Council Tuesday.

City Rep. Eddie Holguin, a frequent critic of the council majority who regularly calls them "tax-and-spenders," said that "I'm really impressed with what this Council was able to accomplish."

His comment came as the Council approved the city budget 7-1, with Northeast Rep. Melina Castro the sole "no." The budget vote preceded a vote on the tax rate, which came much later in the meeting.

The tax rate represents a decrease from the previous year, something that hasn't happened for at least 30 years. It was achieved in large part because the city shifted millions of dollars out of its budget by creating the PSB-operated stormwater district; regardless, Holguin, a critic of the PSB management of the utility, said the tax rate decrease represented a major accomplishment.

"I've consistently fought to try and accomplish this and I'm happy I was able to be part of this Council this year ... I hope we're able to do this next year," he said.

"Are you going to start calling us cut-and-spenders?" Mayor John Cook asked.

"Briefly," Holguin responded.

And sure enough, although the term "tax-and-spenders" did not come up, the City Council did narrowly pass a 25 cent increase in Sun Metro bus fares, which Holguin and Reps. Castro, Rachel Quintana and Emma Acosta opposed. The Council also referred to legislative review a bus advertising contract, a discussion that lingered long enough for city Rep. Steve Ortega to say off mic that the same group of people who spent much of the meeting arguing against the bus fare increase were turning down a source of revenue for Sun Metro that would help mitigate future fare increases.

The city also approved a settlement with the El Paso Electric Company, and a memorandum of understanding with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization. And, at 4:30 p.m., the City Council spent close to 45 minutes discussing whether to allow police and fire support, as well as other support, for a celebration of Mexican Independence Day in, ironically enough, San Jacinto Plaza.

Finally, at about 5:20 p.m., the Council found the time to address the stormwater utility, and even have a little spat between Byrd and Holguin.

Let's take these as they appeared.

***

Electric rates will go up by 8 percent under a settlement approved by City Council with the El Paso Electric Company.

The Electric Company had proposed a near 16 percent increase, which it attributed to rising fuel costs.

The city challenged the case, which was at the Texas Public Utility Commission.

Norman Gordon, the lawyer contracted by the city to handle utility issues, said the settlement represented a "substantial increase in bills, but there's been substantial increases in energy prices."

A slide he presented to City Council showed the three parts of an electric bill: The residential base rate, which remains the same ($42.97); the fuel factor, which goes from $16.60 to $19.20; and the surcharge, which goes from $1.86 to $4.16.

By law, the Electric Company can pass fuel costs to customers, but cannot make a profit from the fuel cost.

The vote was 5-3 to approve, with city Reps. Melina Castro, Rachel Quintana and Eddie Holguin opposing the settlement, asking questions about the city's chances should it continue to contest the case.

Once finalized, the changes would take effect Oct. 1.

***

The city spent a good chunk of time going over the new pool ordinance. Our friends over at ABC-7 KVIA covered the story. Essentially, cover your pool or lock your doors. The height requirement for fencing is gone.

Quintana made the point that the rule, which applies to new homes, homes that are sold, or when a building permit is required for renovation on a pool or hot tub, will be hard to enforce. Once a home is sold, for example, the transaction is between the buyer and seller, so the city will have no way of enforcing the new rule, unless for some other reason a building inspector is called to the home.

The ordinance also calls for increased "education" in the form of information on pool safety to be distributed by the city to contractors, retailers and Realtors.

Danny Olivas, president of the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors, applauded the city for taking a second look at the ordinance, which he said he hoped does not take away from the real solution: "Uninterrupted adult supervision."

***

The discussion on raising the Sun Metro fee from $1 to $1.25 featured a sharp exchange between Jaime Abeytia, who writes The Lionstar Blog, and city Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

Abeytia said the majority of bus riders are forced to ride the bus, as opposed to having the choice. He called it hypocrisy and fodder for future political opponents if members of the council who consider themselves environmentalists make it more difficult for people to afford public transportation.

O'Rourke asked him whether he had a competing proposal to maintain service and not raise the fare.

Abeytia shot back: "I wasn't elected by my district to represent the people. You were."

Abeytia made a pitch for senior citizens, and O'Rourke asked him whether he knew what seniors will pay under the proposal. Abeytia hesitated for a moment, and then told O'Rourke it was a nice "gotcha" moment. O'Rourke said that the fee for seniors would not go up under the proposal -- a true statement, although transfers for all users would go up from 10 cents to a quarter.

"I don't make the decision lightly," O'Rourke said.

Abeytia repeated his comment that "choice" riders might be better able to afford the increase, but the majority of riders had to take the bus.

Cook asked Abeytia if he would favor a property tax increase to supplement Sun Metro, to which Abeytia responded that the reason for the increase, a rise in fuel prices, wasn't due to take effect until December.

City staff had estimated that it will take $1.5 million from reserves to balance the Sun Metro budget, and putting off the fare increase until December would cost an estimated $450,000.

Holguin argued that since the cost for fuel was just an estimate, the city was recommending a fare increase that might not be needed, and would stay in place even if fuel prices end up being lower than the city estimated.

Quintana asked if Sun Metro had sources of income other than riders.

Tim Omick, with First Transit manager brought in to oversee Sun Metro, said Sun Metro was looking at interior ads, ads on bus shelters, and was working with UTEP and major employers on selling bus passes.

The discussion veered into the length of time allowed for transfers, the future funding needs of the service, and the possibility -- or probability -- that fare increases are likely.

The motion to pass the staff-suggested fare increases was a 4-4 tie (you guess the vote breakdown), which the mayor broke in favor of the increases.

***

The next item is important, so pay close attention.

The City Council approved a memorandum of understanding and management agreement with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA).

As part of the deal, Assistant City Attorney Ray Telles will become director of the CRRMA. The CRRMA will pay his salary, and the city will provide up to $65,000 worth of in-kind costs as well as provide administrative help through the city manager's office.

Holguin asked about the source of the in-kind costs – which Wilson said would come from her office – and then O'Rourke spoke.

He said the City Council voted unanimously for the $1 billion road-building plan, and to now "quibble over $65,000 … I really don't see the questions."

Castro asked why the cost, and Telles' position, was not brought up with Council approved the plan.

Wilson said it wasn't immediately apparent that Telles would be the director of the CRRMA, but after review it became clear he already had the background, having served as assistant city attorney assigned to the CRRMA.

Castro said she wasn't comfortable with the way elements of the $1 billion plan were being brought to Council "in little pieces."

"I'm not opposed to the project. It's the way this came about," she said.

Harold Hahn, chairman of the CRRMA, said the CRRMA was going to manage about $900 million of the $1 billion in projects, and needed some help from the city "from an administrative startup position."

Ortega made a motion to approve.

Before the vote, Holguin spoke. He said he did not support the process through which the CRRMA was created (transportation turmoil when RMA resolution fails, june 26, 2006) but he did support the projects, "especially when half the projects are in District 6."

The vote was 7-1, with Castro opposing.

The CRRMA meets Friday to consider formally hiring Telles.

The Texas Transportation Commission meets next week to consider the $1 billion road-building plan.

While the City Council item may seem procedural, and in and of itself was not a major milestone, it marks the further coalescing of the elements needed to create the CRRMA structure. The CRRMA previously received funding from its role in the Inner Loop project as well as establishing the legal commitments that ensure its survival by selling the bonds for the project. [ the RMA and the road to build , aug. 17, 2007]

***

Finally, toward the end of the meeting, the City Council took up an item submitted by Quintana to give each Council member an appointment to the committee being formed by the Public Service Board to review the stormwater master plan.

The issue came up during last week's City Council meeting.

Byrd opened discussion by pointing out that the PSB never asked for the stormwater utility -- in fact, the city prevailed upon the PSB to accept responsibility for the operation.

Then she turned to Holguin and asked him to be "more respectful of (EPWU CEO) Mr. (Ed) Archuleta."

Holguin, as might be expected, was not receptive toward the request.

"Mr. Archuleta is a big boy," he said. "For the amount of money he gets paid, he can answer my questions."

A brief conversation loop ensued before the discussion turned back to the item at hand.

The vote was 5-3, with O'Rourke joining Acosta, Holguin, Quintana and Castro in favor.

***

Phew, so that's it for a marathon meeting and an equally marathon City Council story. If you made this far, here's a little treat for you, courtesy of a sharp-eyed observer.

As part of the consent agenda, the City Council approved tax refunds. It's a common item on the agenda. On Tuesday, one of the items was $3,340.33 for overpayment of 2007 taxes to IndyMac Bank

They can really use the money.