The Franklins after a rain

Donna Stephens, All Rights Reserved 09/16/11

Donna Stephens, All Rights Reserved 09/16/11

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Photographer Donna Stephens took the pictures above this morning. She wrote: "We finally got some real rain yesterday and again last night. Lots of thunder and lightning along with a good downpour. This morning the mountain had this beautiful cloud cover and I was able to get off a couple of shots."

Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta Schedule

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What Sprawl Looks Like

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Above are 3 maps showing how land conservation affects sprawl in the Transmountain Scenic Corridor. This illustration was done by Charlie Wakeem long before the petition to conserve 792 acres (now 780) was certified. The term "Compromise Plan" was just a term but it is based on the real Wakeem map that was posted yesterday. No such compromise has been struck. Note that east is at the top of the maps and north is to the left. Gas Line Road orients and scales all 3 presentations.

The pane labeled "Westside Master Plan" reveals the unchecked sprawl created by PSB's current Westside Master Plan. It will contain the same helter skelter ugly developments currently checkmating the El Paso Northwest. There will be no sustainable, smart growth. You can forget green infrastructure, low impact development. Most of all, you can forget a Scenic Corridor. The animal crossing which TxDOT plans to build under Transmountain west of Paseo del Norte will be unusable because animals will be forced into limited habitats to the east by the PSB sprawl and won't even attempt traversing the asphalt and concrete of these new neighborhoods with big box houses near big box commercial stores.

The pane labeled "Proposed 792 Acre NOS Zoning" shows the Scenic Corridor preserved. Since this is an older illustration, it also shows the encroachment on that conserved land by the unchecked sprawl of land without Smart Code.

The pane in the middle is the "compromise" which preserves arroyos 39 and 40 and moves Paseo del Norte west.

Here's the question: Do you want what is behind Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3? The petition calls for Door#3 with a Conservation Easement (forever) and not NOS Zoning that can be changed by whim and political maneuvering - particularly in a City that abrogates responsibility to its PSB in favor of ugly sprawl - and, it must be said, more water meters, draining bolsons, large pipe projects to shift water from east El Paso (and soon agriculturally-important Hudspeth County) to large, population-thin, big box houses in the El Paso NW.

Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta This Saturday

Texas Parks and Wildlife to host the 7^th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta at Franklin Mountains State Park

El Paso, Texas—Many people living in El Paso are not very familiar with the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert including the Franklin Mountains in the heart of the city. At almost 26,000 acres, Franklin Mountains State Park protects prime Chihuahuan Desert habitats within an urban setting. The park is home to numerous species of plants and animals. On September 17, 2011, the park will host the 7th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta at the Tom Mays Unit, located 3.5 miles east of I-10 on Trans Mountain Road. The main objective of this Fiesta is to get people outdoors and to help increase awareness of the uniqueness of our desert. This event will not only showcase the natural and cultural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert, but also the recreational and educational opportunities that exist within Franklin Mountains State Parks and other state parks within the region.

The FREE COMMUNITY event will run from 9AM-3PM and will offer various activities, presentations, and exhibits throughout the day. During this event park staff, members of the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition, and other environmental education groups will be on hand to offer free demonstrations, guided tours, guest speakers, and informational booths designed to introduce the curious to the wonders of our fascinating southwest desert. Drive thru the park where you will find different activities and groups providing information about their conservation efforts in our area. Vendors will be on site to sell food, snacks, and drinks. Visitors can check out the Wildlife Viewing Area and enjoy interpretive programs on plants and animals while spending time watching birds coming back and forth for water and food. Hay and horseback riding will also be available. Franklin Mountains State Park is also hosting a Chili Cook-off sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International. Public tasting will be available around noon. Live music by local group Slackabilly. The entrance fee to the park is waived due to the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta joining the celebration of the Franklin Mountains State Park Lone Star Legacy. Donations to Franklin Mountains State Park are accepted. So come and join us for a fun, exciting, and enjoyable outdoors experience and discover more about the Chihuahuan Desert.

Maps

Here's a map that shows you the land which the petition has asked City Council to preserve:

You will have to click on it to enlarge. All the land within the purple land is what petitioners want preserved. This map also shows an earlier compromise proposal from Open Space Chairman Charlie Wakeem. His proposal is everything between the dotted blue lines. It preserves Arroyos, FEMA 40 and 39. Note also that he moves Paseo del Norte west out of the preserved land.

Now here is the PSB proposal which they adopted in Executive Session and proposed to the Open Space Board yesterday:

Again, click on the map to enlarge. It is the same map that I posted on September 1. Already it is erroneously being called the "Wakeem" map. Compare it to the map at the top of this post. Note however that it includes 22 acres (a resort/golf course) in the middle of the open space and cuts into FEMA 39 in the southwest corner - probably to move developable land closer to Transmountain so that the City picks up less of the burden of the cost of Paseo. Of course, note that Paseo is not moved in the PSB proposal whereas it was in the earlier Wakeem proposal.

Here's what we know about the PSB: they are opposed to a Conservation Easement as the means to preserve the land. They have stated such at OSAB. Their goal is to re-appropriate the land in a few years which a CE would make impossible because it would be forever. Also, when the City Council was ready to rezone all of the land in the Westside Master Plan as URD (Urban Reserve District) in lieu of re-planning it under Smart Code, Mr. Archuleta and the PSB reneged on their agreement to go along and supported Rural zoning. Bottom line: Mr. Archuleta and the PSB do not want any land conserved - they want it all to be sold for development. What does this mean for petitioners should City Council decide to seek some process to come up with an alternative to the petition plan rather than voting in favor of the petition plan?

The Open Space Advisory Board (the same Board that voted twice to preserve the same land as proposed by petitioners and, in fact, turned down the Wakeem "Compromise" shown in the map above) voted to recommend a process for conserving the land and finding common ground (no pun intended) with all stakeholders. This process will require about 90 days perhaps 120. It includes working with Dover Kohl, a review of the Comp plan, the use of charettes, the conversion of the Westside Plan to SmartCode and a conservation easement for land preserved.

It seems to me that this will be a good process for petitioners and all stakeholders. However, if it seems that there is no resolution, if it seems that some are not negotiating in good faith (as PSB has done with their stance regarding a conservation easement), then the petitioners have every right at any point to return to the voters and seek a referendum election. Since I was one of the chief petition organizers, I can tell you that getting the necessary signatures will take just weeks - not months - because we know where to find enough voters now.

What does this entire process teach us (if the lesson has not already been learned)? EPWU should just be a department of the City run by a Director not a CEO, the PSB should be abolished and City Council should assume total responsibility in reality and not just as a matter of fact. There is just too much power held by one man and it is used to thwart sustainable growth in the City of El Paso. Equals seek win/win. Autocrats do not.

Random Thoughts about PSB's Strategic Planning

Scott Haskins facilitates strategic planning meeting as Nick Costanzo looks on.

I attended both days of the PSB Strategic Planning meetings. They were held at the TecH20 Center, one of my favorite places in El Paso - and a place that, if you haven't visited, do so. You'll enjoy your time and learn a great deal about water conservation. The sessions were facilitated by Scott Haskins from Seattle. (My only regret about the meetings is that I didn't introduce myself to Scott and talk "Seattle". He mentioned in passing the Cedar River watershed which made me think of Rattlesnake Lake and remember some great hikes with my children around that area. SPU's management of the watershed is a remarkable example of land and habitat conservation.)

I'd like to give some random thoughts about my experience these past two days. These are random and not in order of any importance or significance. I don't intend any detailed analysis. I'll think about more things later, of course.

The days were enjoyable and they were enjoyable because being with these people was enjoyable. I saw a real openness and energy in the PSB members that I have not seen before. It's always nice to get compliments when not expecting them and I was flattered when my e-letter was complimented by Maria Teran. She likes how I link items to more information. She said it was "regular and identifiable". She made these comments in the context of discussing communications from PSB/EPWU.

Speaking about communications, that topic really aroused lively comment among PSB members. Everyone (including myself) agrees that Christina Montoya deserves kudos. Whenever you talk web sites and communication with the public, people get excited. They like social networking. (I'd follow Christina's tweets and would "like" a PSB Facebook page.) Board Chairman Ed Escudero and member David Nemir along with Ms. Teran extolled the planning meeting as a forum to engage the public - their stakeholders. Mr. Nemir wanted to know how to publicize the planning meetings better. (One of the negatives for the two days was the fact that El Paso's press was not present. They would rather cover a small water main break that affects a few homes than the conservation efforts of our water and stormwater utility.)

Ed Archuleta made my day both yesterday and today. Our State Wildlife Biologist, Lois Balin, attended yesterday and asked what could be done for important wetlands/habitats especially the Fred Hervey Plant and the Rio Bosque. I followed up with a question about the Bosque and Mr. Archuleta made it clear that providing the Bosque year-round water was easy. (This has currently been a crisis. Watering is done by hand by a few volunteers. Trees are dying.) Mr. Archuleta also mentioned that he has in the past considered seeing if the PSB could take over the management of the park. (When asked about that, John Sproul, the park manager/curator/conservationist, said that he knew that at one time the PSB wanted to look at the Bosque as a reservoir - not quite what the rest of us would have in mind.) The big problem with the Bosque is what Chuy Reyes and the Irrigation District are doing to the Bosque - denying them water and draining their groundwater - and they are draining the groundwater. (More on that in the future.) If Ed can help (and I intend to keep pushing on this one), he will be a hero in yet another way.

Then today Mr. Archuleta gave his thoughts about the property at now closed Houston Elementary School. That property may not mean much to many but it means much to me and my neighbors and our neighborhood association. The Newman Park Neighborhood Association, of which I am the current President, abuts the neighborhood, Manhattan Heights, where the school is. It has fabulous playfields that shouldn't go to waste. Mr. Archuleta mentioned building some kind of water storage with playgrounds above and permeable material in between. Best of both worlds and a way to utilize a perfect place for kids and teams to play and to prevent a blight between our neighborhood and Five Points.

Again, a big downside was the absence of El Paso's press. There were more from the public yesterday than today - but still a low number. Thank heavens I got the word out and a handfull of citizens showed up. Perhaps if PSB members are looking for opportunities to have a freer and in-depth conversation with the public, they should consider scheduling such meetings in the evenings or over the weekends. I understand the stress evening and weekend meetings puts on staff (and the staff management reports were super and should be heard by more El Pasoans); but, that kind of venue would get more people involved. (I'm thinking punch and those little cookies with sticky fruit on top as well.) Perhaps combining a public forum with tours of TecH2O Center and the de-sal plant on a Saturday would be just the ticket.

Of course, we are a far way from transparency in policy-making. There remains some serious and sober discussions about sustainability and rates. It did apperar as if several of the board members see the energy to be had by being open. I just hope that, in the days to come, many will also see the reasonableness of conserving 792 acres of open space known as the Scenic Corridor and conserving land and habitat by refusing to put a major thoroughfare (Paseo del Norte) through that beautiful mountain land. Frankly, no financial plan or formula will be harmed by the preservation. The PSB's fiduciary responsibility also includes protecting open space from garbage, building attractive trailheads, and conserving land and protecting it from encroachment by being sure that what is conserved has adequate buffers. They do a great job in just about everything that they do. It would be great if they would also join hands with petitioners and save the Scenic Corridor.

Some Food for Thought

PSB Board Member Katherine Brennand shows her support for conservation of Castner Range.

The PSB Strategic Meeting schedule has been changed. Below is the “current” schedule. Note the change for tomorrow:

Thursday, September 8, 2011 – TecH2O Center

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

10:00 a.m. Strategic Planning Meeting #1

Friday, September 9, 2011 – TecH2O Center

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Strategic Planning Meeting #2

Not much information regarding the agenda. However, there may be a number of items that they should look at including:

• Sustainability of water and long range implications especially noting that water rights are being bought up from farms in Hudspeth County (Dell City); assume 2 million (or even less) people in El Paso in coming decades X 130 gallons per day per person – what’s the plan?
• What about real cost of water? Selling land and development really doesn’t pay for it.
• What plans are there to conserve other natural resources including land? What are their plans for the NW Master Plan? Why are a few acres in the Scenic Corridor so sacred to them?
• What about information sharing with PSB members themselves. Reportedly, that’s been a real problem – keeping Board members in the dark (not to mention the public). Did El Paso Times or the Inc. report let you know about the strategic planning sessions in a very visible story at least in one of the main sections?

Just food for thought. Remember, public comment is appropriate.

Now here’s some food for thought regarding the petition and the Scenic Corridor:

• Since petitioners are not willing to compromise on land and all want the removal of Paseo del Norte, how can a second petition for an election be prevented if Council does nothing on the 20^th or tries to extend or votes the proposal down?
• As stated before, Paseo could be an interchange to no where. El Paso has an interchange to no where. Here are the coordinates: 31.809394,-106.539134. Check out the Google maps link. TxDOT built it. The Army Corps put in a dam. End of story.
• The “box” of 792 acres really gives a buffer to development encroachment. Shrinking it anymore gives permission for encroachment.
• All of us need to advocate for immediate open space conservation of all Natural Open Space and arroyos already promised in the original Westside (Northwest) Master Plan . City Council and the PSB have already voted to change all acreage in the NW Master Plan to Urban Reserve District until smart code is implemented. The problem with a zoning designation is that it can always be changed to residential or commercial or industrial or whatever. 792 acres (the Scenic Corridor) and all the other areas previously promised to be preserved should be preserved under a conservation easement. The remaining acres should be rezoned using smart code ASAP.