El Paso City Council considering expanding mayor’s voting power

City council is considering allowing Mayor Oscar Leeser to vote on more issues than he’s currently allowed.

“Right now, he’s only allowed to vote in ties, which just doesn’t make sense,” said District 5 City Representative, Michiel Noe, explaining the city charter only allows the mayor to break a tie if council is split on an issue.

Noe told ABC-7 that policy is not in line with a state requirement that requires all city council members to vote on items that require a super-majority to pass, including the mayor.

For example, if there is a zoning change to a property and 20 percent of the surrounding residents oppose the zoning change, then the proposal would need a super-majority vote to pass.

Mayor Oscar Leeser’s vote would be needed for a super-majority vote on council.

Ironically, this is not a change council can make on its own. Noe told ABC-7 it requires voter approval.

City council sent the proposal to expand Leeser’s voting powers to a review committee that will further explore the issue.

The latest it can be sent to voters is in November.