PSB Passes Unnecessary Policy - Why?

Yesterday, the Public Service Board passed Policy and Procedures on Use of Stormwater Funds for Open Space, Green Projects and other related attributes. The policy states that the 10% of the stormwater fee can only be spent for open space acquisition. CEO Ed Archuleta has seemed recently to have some great urgency for passing this policy in spite of the fact that the fee's purposes are under review by City attorneys and City Council as well as the Open Space Advisory Board. What is the urgency? Why does it seem that Archuleta and Mayor John Cook were so hot to trot to pass it? No immediate project is before the water or stormwater utility that would require any sort of policy. Another few weeks of waiting for City decisions would be okay.

One member of the PSB, Maria Teran, called passage "harmless". Yet, it would have been far more conservative simply to do nothing. Could it be that Archuleta hopes to influence a future interpretation of the stormwater ordinance in a manner more in keeping with his opinion? Is there fear that the Saipan grass project would be jeopardized. (Regarding that project, PSB member, Dr. Rick Bonart, pointed out that, under this policy, land can only be acquired and vegetating Saipan is not acquistion. The Mayor argued with Bonart saying that vegetation has a stormwater purpose in that plants absorb water. Huh? If that is the case, retorted Bonart, then why not vegetate all the ugly pits around the City. The Mayor did not respond. Although I'm all for planting, planting is not acquisition and the Mayor knows it which makes me wonder why he would even advance such a lame bit of logic.)

The motion passed with only one dissenting vote - Dr. Rick Bonart's.

Something is up. I smell a rat. I've asked for an itemization of the $364,000 being spent on sod and shrubs at Saipan. Under Texas State Law, I'm entitled to that information immediately as I am a member of the Open Space Advisory Board and this is an open space question. I don't even have to implicate the open records laws. Nevertheless, a stall is in the works. The information is not forthcoming and I'm hearing excuses. I first made the request last Monday, July 19th.

What was really plain and upsetting at yesterday's PSB meeting was the realization that, with the exception of Dr. Bonart, the board is made up of "yes" men and women. In effect, they are a rubber stamp for anything that Mr. Archuleta and company propose. I've seen boards like this in other places in the past. Such boards always mean that the tax payer will accrue unnecessary, and too often extravagant, expenses because the authority of CEOs goes unchecked for too long. What is the old saying about absolute power?

A large Palo Verde and other vegetation were destroyed by EPWU at the Nature Preserve at Resler Canyon

Recall EPWU's lack of neighborliness and good corporate citizenship with regard to Resler Canyon. It took nearly a year and some threats of legal action for EPWU leaders to do the right thing and fix the damage they caused to the nature preserve at Resler Canyon. Excuses. Stalls.

Of course, the willingness of the board members could offer an opportunity. One could try to market the image of most PSB members as those talking, bobbing heads that people put on their dashboards and computer monitors. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that, as they become more aware of PSB actions, El Pasoans will continue to buy these rubber stamps and bobbing heads. I for one am going to start attending and paying attention to the PSB and I think all El Pasoans should do likewise. I certainly will help to inform others about what is going on. If only there was the same interest in PSB meetings as there is in City Council meetings . . . if only . . . Perhaps that is what worries the top brass the most and why there are urgencies where urgencies do not exist.