Agenda for Tuesday 4/10/07
The agenda for Tuesday's meeting was posted last Friday. I trust everyone had a good weekend. So let's take a look at the agenda. The previous meeting was a one item meeting on the gas company. Tuesday shows a return to the full agenda.
First up is a presentation of the proposed Regional Mobility Authority for Presidio County. It would sure help if the city listed the name of the person making the presentation. As it is, there is no information on the subject of the presentation or the presenter, except as "Presidio County Officials". I guess that this is the transportation work being spearheaded by Bob Schwab. Can somebody verify this for all to understand?
Next up is a presentation from Alltel about putting a cellular antenna on the city water tower. This follows Alltel's decision to back off from putting a 500-ft cell tower less than a mile due south from Fort D.A. Russell which is a registered national historic property. It reminds me of the recent SpeedExpress request to do wireless internet from the water tower. At that time, some council members were dead set against letting any company have access to our water tower. I imagine a little bit higher payment would be coming from Alltel. Should be an interesting discussion.
Then comes a presentation from Tom Greenwood about the library (finally a name to go with the presentation). The library project is behind schedule (note, I originally called it "seriously" behind but was told that as of a few weeks ago, ORCA considered it a "little" behind) as is every grant that this administration touches. The pool project was finished more than nine months ago and Mr. Sauceda just recently responded to the latest set of discrepancies found by ORCA. The pool grant is not done and we are approaching an important July deadline on the library.
One more presentation from Texas Disposal Systems will follow.
On to business items. There are nine agenda items. All are up for "discuss, consider and action" which means that the mayor and administrator give council permission to take action. Missing from business is the lingering issue of Sauceda's vacation sales. At the last meeting, Oscar Martinez asked when this issue would be returned. Sauceda told his biggest supporter on council that it was "council's prerogative." It seems to me that Martinez exercised his prerogative to get it back on the agenda. I guess that ain't enough with Sauceda. Flo already got Oscar's vote for a nineteen-month contract and five-month severance package and paid travel time. Flo no need Oscar no mo. y'know?
Next up is the cancellation of the election and certification of the unopposed candidates. They should get their certificates of election on the same day they would have had the election been held. Will there be a special meeting in mid May to swear them into office? Anybody know the procedure on this?
MISD will ask to close part of Highland for Cinco de Mayo festivities. Note to MISD: I have watched Sauceda drop the ball on street closures for two years. The first year, he forgot to send the request to the state (it is a state highway). The second year, he sent the request in after several reminders, but he forgot to schedule somebody to close the street. A volunteer for that event (yours truly) had to close the state highway himself by borrowing signs from the city. Dinner for 1500 was almost delayed because of his administrative mistake. Sauceda recovered in style by making it in time for the meal, though never offered an apology or explanation for his lapse. MISD would be well advised to have multiple meetings with Flo to make sure he does his job.
Then we have the sweetheart hookup deal for Doug Humble. This is an action that begs more discussion and some simple documentation. It seems that Humble bought property with a city main sewer line traversing it. No easement record could be found. Didn't we lose a couple of records in a fire? He asked the city to relocate the sewer line at city expense to the edge of the property, and the city agreed. He also asked for compensation. The city agreed to negotiate. He came back in February with a request for five free water hookups and five free sewer hookups (worth as much as $15,000). That request was not approved. Whenever council discusses this, they are never given documentation (like maps and plats) from the administrator, just a bunch of handwaving. How can they make informed decisions without documentation? They cannot. The city should discuss the precedent they set by compensating for things that might have been legal in the first place. The city lost a lot of records and has more than a couple of easement issues on other properties. The city is moving the sewer line at taxpayer expense. Why is that not sufficient?
Next is a discussion of windows at the MAC and involving Rio Grande COG; then appointing members to the Parks & Rec board; then MISD support for a school garden.
Following are two action items on grants. One to amend the code enforcement grant, and another to amend the recycling grant. It sure would be nice if Sauceda could provide the public with some information on the proposed amendments. The agenda items are typed in ALLCAPS BOLD to make them look official and take up lots of space; every agency is spelled out completely every time, but the agenda items rarely tell you what is on the agenda. My guess is he is asking for time extensions. Other guesses?
Finally we get the comedy part of the evening, also known as accounts payable and expenditures report. Followed by citizen comments from those who have the will to stay. Gonna be a long one.
First up is a presentation of the proposed Regional Mobility Authority for Presidio County. It would sure help if the city listed the name of the person making the presentation. As it is, there is no information on the subject of the presentation or the presenter, except as "Presidio County Officials". I guess that this is the transportation work being spearheaded by Bob Schwab. Can somebody verify this for all to understand?
Next up is a presentation from Alltel about putting a cellular antenna on the city water tower. This follows Alltel's decision to back off from putting a 500-ft cell tower less than a mile due south from Fort D.A. Russell which is a registered national historic property. It reminds me of the recent SpeedExpress request to do wireless internet from the water tower. At that time, some council members were dead set against letting any company have access to our water tower. I imagine a little bit higher payment would be coming from Alltel. Should be an interesting discussion.
Then comes a presentation from Tom Greenwood about the library (finally a name to go with the presentation). The library project is behind schedule (note, I originally called it "seriously" behind but was told that as of a few weeks ago, ORCA considered it a "little" behind) as is every grant that this administration touches. The pool project was finished more than nine months ago and Mr. Sauceda just recently responded to the latest set of discrepancies found by ORCA. The pool grant is not done and we are approaching an important July deadline on the library.
One more presentation from Texas Disposal Systems will follow.
On to business items. There are nine agenda items. All are up for "discuss, consider and action" which means that the mayor and administrator give council permission to take action. Missing from business is the lingering issue of Sauceda's vacation sales. At the last meeting, Oscar Martinez asked when this issue would be returned. Sauceda told his biggest supporter on council that it was "council's prerogative." It seems to me that Martinez exercised his prerogative to get it back on the agenda. I guess that ain't enough with Sauceda. Flo already got Oscar's vote for a nineteen-month contract and five-month severance package and paid travel time. Flo no need Oscar no mo. y'know?
Next up is the cancellation of the election and certification of the unopposed candidates. They should get their certificates of election on the same day they would have had the election been held. Will there be a special meeting in mid May to swear them into office? Anybody know the procedure on this?
MISD will ask to close part of Highland for Cinco de Mayo festivities. Note to MISD: I have watched Sauceda drop the ball on street closures for two years. The first year, he forgot to send the request to the state (it is a state highway). The second year, he sent the request in after several reminders, but he forgot to schedule somebody to close the street. A volunteer for that event (yours truly) had to close the state highway himself by borrowing signs from the city. Dinner for 1500 was almost delayed because of his administrative mistake. Sauceda recovered in style by making it in time for the meal, though never offered an apology or explanation for his lapse. MISD would be well advised to have multiple meetings with Flo to make sure he does his job.
Then we have the sweetheart hookup deal for Doug Humble. This is an action that begs more discussion and some simple documentation. It seems that Humble bought property with a city main sewer line traversing it. No easement record could be found. Didn't we lose a couple of records in a fire? He asked the city to relocate the sewer line at city expense to the edge of the property, and the city agreed. He also asked for compensation. The city agreed to negotiate. He came back in February with a request for five free water hookups and five free sewer hookups (worth as much as $15,000). That request was not approved. Whenever council discusses this, they are never given documentation (like maps and plats) from the administrator, just a bunch of handwaving. How can they make informed decisions without documentation? They cannot. The city should discuss the precedent they set by compensating for things that might have been legal in the first place. The city lost a lot of records and has more than a couple of easement issues on other properties. The city is moving the sewer line at taxpayer expense. Why is that not sufficient?
Next is a discussion of windows at the MAC and involving Rio Grande COG; then appointing members to the Parks & Rec board; then MISD support for a school garden.
Following are two action items on grants. One to amend the code enforcement grant, and another to amend the recycling grant. It sure would be nice if Sauceda could provide the public with some information on the proposed amendments. The agenda items are typed in ALLCAPS BOLD to make them look official and take up lots of space; every agency is spelled out completely every time, but the agenda items rarely tell you what is on the agenda. My guess is he is asking for time extensions. Other guesses?
Finally we get the comedy part of the evening, also known as accounts payable and expenditures report. Followed by citizen comments from those who have the will to stay. Gonna be a long one.
posted by RobC at 10:57 AM
8 Comments:
Regional Mobility Authority: The County and City of Presidio voted to initiate an RMA. We are working with an engineering firm now to petition TXDOT. Looks as if Marfa is going to finally get some info on it and then someday(?) put it on the agenda for action. Here's the down low:
A Regional Mobility Authority is authorized to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and expand a wide range of transportation facilities and services. Potential projects include highways (tolled or untolled), ferries, airports, bikeways, and intermodal hubs. Projects can be financed using a wide range of methods, including the sale of tax-exempt revenue bonds, private equity, public grants, government loans, and revenue generated from existing transportation facilities. A Regional Mobility Authority can acquire or condemn property for projects, enter into public private partnerships, and set rates for the use of transportation facilities.
The way I remember reading the election code is that the members must wait til May to be sworn in, I guess at the next city council meeting following the election - the regular meeting is on May 15.
This is off the subject of the Tuesday agenda, but does anyone know the status of the city audit? Is it still going on or what?
I heard he went into therapy after breaking all his pencils and going cross-eyed trying to follow the bouncing budget.
Audit is taking much longer than expected because it is such a tangled mess.
Guess Flo will be back just in time for the meeting. Left Thursday at noon. Was not back this a.m.
Alpine got rid of Duncan Disposal with a great deal of difficulty; bet we do too.
How long did it take Alpine to get rid of Duncan Disposal???? Hurry, Marfa is sinking fast.....
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