Post by rosa on Dec 17, 2008 5:16:19 GMT -7
City Representatives have kept the PSB out of accountability's way long enough. I hope these folks continue to fight to get this on the May ballot.
City keeps stormwater utility under Public Service Board control
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 12/17/2008 12:00:00 AM MST
EL PASO --The storm water utility will remain in the hands of the Public Service Board for now, but organizers of the petition that forced the City Council to re-vote on this issue Tuesday said they will fight to get the matter on the May ballot.
By a 5-3 vote, the council rejected the petition's request to have the city take control of the utility.
City representatives also shot down a potential compromise brokered by Mayor John Cook to have an election in November asking voters whether the City Charter should be changed to bring the utility back to the city.
"This issue is significant because so many people signed this petition. ... I don't want to ignore them," said West-Central city Rep. Susie Byrd.
"But we spent a lot of time talking to people about the utility, and I think we made the right decision when we decided to let the PSB manage it."
Voting along with Byrd not to change the management of the utility were West Side city Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly, Eastridge/Mid-Valley city Rep. Steve Ortega, East-Central city Rep. Emma Acosta and South-West city Rep. Beto O'Rourke.
Voting in favor of bringing the utility over to the city were Northeast city Rep. Melina Castro, East-Valley city Rep. Eddie Holguin and East Side city Rep. Rachel Quintana.
Organizers of the petition that forced Tuesday's vote said they were not happy with the compromise Cook proposed because it delayed the election until November and it required an amendment to the City Charter.
"Thanks. We appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think I will just collect the signatures and have the election" on May 9, said Gerald Miller, the petition's main organizer.
After Miller said he would seek to place the issue on the May 9 ballot, the council voted unanimously to delete Cook's compromise election from the agenda.
Miller will have until late January or late February to gather the signatures of about 2,000 registered voters. He said more than 5,000 people signed his initial petition.
If the signatures are certified, the public will be able to vote on the management of the stormwater utility on the same ballot that Cook, Byrd, Castro and Ortega are expected to be on for re-election.
Gustavo Reveles Acosta may be reached at greveles@elpasotimes.com; 546-6133.
Where do I sign up?
City keeps stormwater utility under Public Service Board control
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 12/17/2008 12:00:00 AM MST
EL PASO --The storm water utility will remain in the hands of the Public Service Board for now, but organizers of the petition that forced the City Council to re-vote on this issue Tuesday said they will fight to get the matter on the May ballot.
By a 5-3 vote, the council rejected the petition's request to have the city take control of the utility.
City representatives also shot down a potential compromise brokered by Mayor John Cook to have an election in November asking voters whether the City Charter should be changed to bring the utility back to the city.
"This issue is significant because so many people signed this petition. ... I don't want to ignore them," said West-Central city Rep. Susie Byrd.
"But we spent a lot of time talking to people about the utility, and I think we made the right decision when we decided to let the PSB manage it."
Voting along with Byrd not to change the management of the utility were West Side city Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly, Eastridge/Mid-Valley city Rep. Steve Ortega, East-Central city Rep. Emma Acosta and South-West city Rep. Beto O'Rourke.
Voting in favor of bringing the utility over to the city were Northeast city Rep. Melina Castro, East-Valley city Rep. Eddie Holguin and East Side city Rep. Rachel Quintana.
Organizers of the petition that forced Tuesday's vote said they were not happy with the compromise Cook proposed because it delayed the election until November and it required an amendment to the City Charter.
"Thanks. We appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think I will just collect the signatures and have the election" on May 9, said Gerald Miller, the petition's main organizer.
After Miller said he would seek to place the issue on the May 9 ballot, the council voted unanimously to delete Cook's compromise election from the agenda.
Miller will have until late January or late February to gather the signatures of about 2,000 registered voters. He said more than 5,000 people signed his initial petition.
If the signatures are certified, the public will be able to vote on the management of the stormwater utility on the same ballot that Cook, Byrd, Castro and Ortega are expected to be on for re-election.
Gustavo Reveles Acosta may be reached at greveles@elpasotimes.com; 546-6133.
Where do I sign up?