PSB Votes to Purchase Palisades Canyon

Dr. Rick Bonart being sworn as new member of the Public Service Board

PSB CEO, Mr. Ed Archuleta, called Palisades Canyon "our central park in El Paso . . . our gateway to the Franklin Mountains . . . a jewel." In his review of the proposal to purchase the 202 acres for $2,465,000 ($12,203/acre), he stressed that time is of the essence and that the property should have been purchased decades ago. After an initial price of over $5million dollars five years ago, Archuleta agrees that the price is fair and he voiced confidence in the appraisal. He said that the purchase is one of the priorities of the City's Open Space Master Plan.

Avid hiker, Risher Gilbert, also expressed that time is of the essence. A commercial real estate attorney, she emphasized the need to work with the current 11 individuals who own the canyon rather than wait for their interests and estates to be scattered eventually among heirs - many who are out of town. She, along with Jack Maxon and others, have worked hard for the preservation of the Palisades for many years now.

Nearly 40 members of the environmental/conservation community were in attendance

The meeting was attended by over 40 members of the environmental and conservation community. Several of them spoke in favor of the purchase including Open Space Advisory Board Chairman, Charlie Wakeem, and Frontera Land Alliance President, Mike Gaglio.

Mr. Wakeem raised a concern that it would be better to amortize the loan over several years so that there is more money available should other needs arise before the PSB has another 10% of stormwater fees to use for purchasing open space that has stormwater needs. After this purchase there will be just $635,000 until 2011. Mr. Wakeem was concerned that there may be a need to act on other privately-held, ecologically sensitive properties in the meantime. However, he voiced his complete support for the purchase if done outright. CEO Archuleta prefers to pay no interest.

Sierra Club President Bill Addington had an additional concern. He believed that the sale price was too high especially since only 40% of the property could ever be developed. (Palisades Canyon is created by 3 arroyos and constitutes a major watershed.)

Mr. Archuleta told the board what needs to be done after approval of the proposal: a complete boundary ground survey, a complete Phase I Environmental survey, an environmental assessment. The sellers have agreed to pay for the surveys and the closing costs. Closing, he said, was expected in 60 days.

New board member, Dr. Rick Bonart, a long-time open space and environmental activist and recent past Chairman of the Open Space Advisory Board, moved that the PSB make the purchase. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Today's meeting was also attended by Elizabeth Ferguson who hiked this area with school children as early as 1929.