Is it the nature of the beast?
Or are the 'horror stories' that get spread around about architects, designers, builders and trades really true?
Or is it possible that just maybe those construction professionals really do know what they're talking about and communication is the key? Granted, it's usually communication that is not pleasant by any standards.
A special thank you again goes out to city councilman Mike Gamba and Todd Leahy for standing up at the hardest part, for a very brief time and accomplishing what previous council and many on current council could not get done in years worth of effort.
The library can now finally move forward.
John Stroud:
"“I know that wasn't a pleasant situation for anyone,” Gamba said. “But what we have now is a design we can all support..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Councilman Mike Gamba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Councilman Mike Gamba. Show all posts
March 3, 2012
December 3, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "City Council tables MEAN contract for further discussion"
'SandBox Nanny' rarely watches council meetings anymore. She gets so much feedback from y'all that there really isn't much of a need to. What she does do, when you are heated up about a topic is wait for the convenience of the video posting and the (fantastic, thank you so much camera guy!!) now broken out into segments live feed. That way, she can just go see for herself what the fuss is all about.
The inserted feedback below is a mix of your feedback. She's sat through way too many deep coma inducing sessions from old council on the battle over 'clean and green' energy in Glenwood Springs.
Email in if she's misread your emailed remarks. Comment ability is blocked on this post.
John Stroud (and local comments (summarized in bold):
"...Glenwood Springs has the opportunity to develop unique energy resources such as geothermal, hydroelectric, coal-seam combustion and biomass, said former city councilman Russ Arensman....."
'Yes, it certainly does. How long have we been at that research into all that now? A decade or more? Where are we at, Russ? Good thing the folks didn't rush out turn off all public utilities thinking they were going to go green for good. Another good thing is all the folks out here who got tired of waiting and are working on biomass, geothermal and compressed natural gas because they got free of you guys and the endless talk with little to no action.'
“For you to take action that commits this city to a largely coal generation infrastructure system for the next 30 years, it's just not smart,” he said....."
'Well, that's pretty much the pot calling the kettle black. Wonder if you guys are ever even going to read the MEAN terms and contract?? If you did, you would see that it's locked in to what can be negotiated and what cannot. Also locked in to the fact that the folks are free to do whatever they want with clean and green alternatives. The thing you guys can't seem to grasp is that nobody is going to pay the way for you to do that, especially MEAN. You have to be self-sufficient. But then most of you are lib's so we just can't wait around for you to become informed on how to not rely on government.'
"....However, terms of the proposed “Schedule M” contract are not negotiable, Glenwood Springs Public Works Director Robin Millyard said.
The contract limits local power generation to 768 kilowatts for MEAN participants within the Xcel Energy/Public Service Company of Colorado control area, which includes Glenwood Springs and Aspen. That represents roughly 2 percent of MEAN's peak load for the area, Millyard said.
“That amount is limited under the terms of the contract,” he said. “But, there is a mechanism to advance any request we want beyond that, whether it's renewable or traditional generation.....”
'Helloooo....you group of former council people we voted out....see? We already have the freedom to do what you want. But MEAN is never going to pay for it like you want.'
“I agree with most of the sentiments expressed tonight,” Councilman Stephen Bershenyi said of the concerns about the ability for local generation.
“But the one thing that's missing in that is how we manage the delivery of that power,” he said. “We don't have the expertise to do that, but our MEAN partnership gives us that....”
'There's that pesky self-sufficiency and can't have it all ways on a free taxpayer ride thing again.'
".....That partnership also gives the city greater influence in promoting renewable energy resource development on a broader scale, he said, noting that MEAN's current energy portfolio includes 30 percent renewables.
“We also have a responsibility to provide energy at a reasonable, fair price,” Bershenyi said...."
'yep. We stroke you for the millionth time on getting us the percentage we are at now and it looks like MEAN is already giving us room to grow. Almost double where we are now and that's pretty good in our view. Thank you very much, now will you please come back one more time and then let it all rest?'
"....Councilman Mike Gamba said it's a question of flexibility versus cost. “Do we maintain absolute flexibility to be able to provide locally generated power, as opposed to cheaper power?..."
'boy...we sure like that new Councilman Gamba. He even does the political two-step stroking real good. All politics are local politics.'
(Read the article? Click title. Comment ability is blocked on this post)
The inserted feedback below is a mix of your feedback. She's sat through way too many deep coma inducing sessions from old council on the battle over 'clean and green' energy in Glenwood Springs.
Email in if she's misread your emailed remarks. Comment ability is blocked on this post.
John Stroud (and local comments (summarized in bold):
"...Glenwood Springs has the opportunity to develop unique energy resources such as geothermal, hydroelectric, coal-seam combustion and biomass, said former city councilman Russ Arensman....."
'Yes, it certainly does. How long have we been at that research into all that now? A decade or more? Where are we at, Russ? Good thing the folks didn't rush out turn off all public utilities thinking they were going to go green for good. Another good thing is all the folks out here who got tired of waiting and are working on biomass, geothermal and compressed natural gas because they got free of you guys and the endless talk with little to no action.'
“For you to take action that commits this city to a largely coal generation infrastructure system for the next 30 years, it's just not smart,” he said....."
'Well, that's pretty much the pot calling the kettle black. Wonder if you guys are ever even going to read the MEAN terms and contract?? If you did, you would see that it's locked in to what can be negotiated and what cannot. Also locked in to the fact that the folks are free to do whatever they want with clean and green alternatives. The thing you guys can't seem to grasp is that nobody is going to pay the way for you to do that, especially MEAN. You have to be self-sufficient. But then most of you are lib's so we just can't wait around for you to become informed on how to not rely on government.'
"....However, terms of the proposed “Schedule M” contract are not negotiable, Glenwood Springs Public Works Director Robin Millyard said.
The contract limits local power generation to 768 kilowatts for MEAN participants within the Xcel Energy/Public Service Company of Colorado control area, which includes Glenwood Springs and Aspen. That represents roughly 2 percent of MEAN's peak load for the area, Millyard said.
“That amount is limited under the terms of the contract,” he said. “But, there is a mechanism to advance any request we want beyond that, whether it's renewable or traditional generation.....”
'Helloooo....you group of former council people we voted out....see? We already have the freedom to do what you want. But MEAN is never going to pay for it like you want.'
“I agree with most of the sentiments expressed tonight,” Councilman Stephen Bershenyi said of the concerns about the ability for local generation.
“But the one thing that's missing in that is how we manage the delivery of that power,” he said. “We don't have the expertise to do that, but our MEAN partnership gives us that....”
'There's that pesky self-sufficiency and can't have it all ways on a free taxpayer ride thing again.'
".....That partnership also gives the city greater influence in promoting renewable energy resource development on a broader scale, he said, noting that MEAN's current energy portfolio includes 30 percent renewables.
“We also have a responsibility to provide energy at a reasonable, fair price,” Bershenyi said...."
'yep. We stroke you for the millionth time on getting us the percentage we are at now and it looks like MEAN is already giving us room to grow. Almost double where we are now and that's pretty good in our view. Thank you very much, now will you please come back one more time and then let it all rest?'
"....Councilman Mike Gamba said it's a question of flexibility versus cost. “Do we maintain absolute flexibility to be able to provide locally generated power, as opposed to cheaper power?..."
'boy...we sure like that new Councilman Gamba. He even does the political two-step stroking real good. All politics are local politics.'
(Read the article? Click title. Comment ability is blocked on this post)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
November 5, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Council critical of new library design concept"
What happened to all the new-found love between the Library District, Downtown Development and Glenwood Springs City Council for all these months?
All those glowing reports in the paper and during council meetings on how well everyone was talking together now, all tensions gone and the planning was 'going great!'?
Will these architects work for free as they go back and redo the entire plan? How are we going to pay for this?
Anyone who is in construction (BTW, Councilman Gamba...where have you been to let it get this far and be totally wrong? You know better.) knows you can't put this many people together without somebody checking constantly for who's on first and what's on second.
Looks like it should fit at The Meadows? Maybe that's a Freudian slip on the architects part because they may have it down in observation that all this fuss over the 'Eighth and Cooper Project' really wasn't 'going great!' after all.
Sorry, everybody but this one is way too hard to swallow.
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
All those glowing reports in the paper and during council meetings on how well everyone was talking together now, all tensions gone and the planning was 'going great!'?
Will these architects work for free as they go back and redo the entire plan? How are we going to pay for this?
Anyone who is in construction (BTW, Councilman Gamba...where have you been to let it get this far and be totally wrong? You know better.) knows you can't put this many people together without somebody checking constantly for who's on first and what's on second.
Looks like it should fit at The Meadows? Maybe that's a Freudian slip on the architects part because they may have it down in observation that all this fuss over the 'Eighth and Cooper Project' really wasn't 'going great!' after all.
Sorry, everybody but this one is way too hard to swallow.
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
October 8, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "City council declines to discuss Re-1 override resolution"
Here is a terrific example of how well the folks are doing in catalyzing the entrenched Valley politics of the past into a more balanced voice of all our social communities.
It could be said that the folks have 'literally been held hostage' to that very powerful social and economic class that have run most of our local governments and business communities for the past decade or more.
The past three years have seen a rising up of the more 'common man' with an emphasis on that movement taking hold in the past year or so.
We have sat major change into our county commissioners spanning the Roaring Fork Valley and both sides of the I-70 corridor. Same on our City Council and Trustee seats. Volunteer boards now hold voice of the citizens and not just powerful business people who focus on individual bottom lines. We have a lot of activism going on out here and the emotions, including anger, are at times palpable.
It is a very good feeling to watch the earlier stages of this movement to balance now be at a point where our new leadership is slowly starting to empower the folks.
A very special thank you to Glenwood Springs City Councilmen Todd Leahy, Mike Gamba and Ted Edmonds for voicing on behalf of what is actually the majority out here. When you count the shadows too.
Let's take a look at some excerpts from John Stroud's reporting:
“I think it is important for us to chime in on all issues that impact the community, and this is one of them,” Steckler said. “If it fails, there will be all sorts of impacts in terms of maintaining strong schools. It's part of our leadership responsibility to discuss such matters.”
"Added McKinney, “The people of this community deserve to know where we stand, and I think that's very important.”
"Opponents of the measure say local taxpayers deserve a break, and that the school district should have to adjust its budget accordingly with the downturn in the economy."
“Every community has different politics, and we have to respect those individual barometers,” he said. (Matt Hamilton)"
“It's not appropriate for us to advise citizens how to vote on something that's not directly part of city government,” Councilman Ted Edmonds said at the Thursday evening City Council meeting."
“There are a lot of reasons to support the tax, and I've heard a lot of arguments on the other side,” said Councilman Mike Gamba. “But it isn't our place to advise citizens how to vote.”
Now, let's see what the 'kids' have to say.
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
It could be said that the folks have 'literally been held hostage' to that very powerful social and economic class that have run most of our local governments and business communities for the past decade or more.
The past three years have seen a rising up of the more 'common man' with an emphasis on that movement taking hold in the past year or so.
We have sat major change into our county commissioners spanning the Roaring Fork Valley and both sides of the I-70 corridor. Same on our City Council and Trustee seats. Volunteer boards now hold voice of the citizens and not just powerful business people who focus on individual bottom lines. We have a lot of activism going on out here and the emotions, including anger, are at times palpable.
It is a very good feeling to watch the earlier stages of this movement to balance now be at a point where our new leadership is slowly starting to empower the folks.
A very special thank you to Glenwood Springs City Councilmen Todd Leahy, Mike Gamba and Ted Edmonds for voicing on behalf of what is actually the majority out here. When you count the shadows too.
Let's take a look at some excerpts from John Stroud's reporting:
“I think it is important for us to chime in on all issues that impact the community, and this is one of them,” Steckler said. “If it fails, there will be all sorts of impacts in terms of maintaining strong schools. It's part of our leadership responsibility to discuss such matters.”
"Added McKinney, “The people of this community deserve to know where we stand, and I think that's very important.”
"Opponents of the measure say local taxpayers deserve a break, and that the school district should have to adjust its budget accordingly with the downturn in the economy."
“Every community has different politics, and we have to respect those individual barometers,” he said. (Matt Hamilton)"
“It's not appropriate for us to advise citizens how to vote on something that's not directly part of city government,” Councilman Ted Edmonds said at the Thursday evening City Council meeting."
“There are a lot of reasons to support the tax, and I've heard a lot of arguments on the other side,” said Councilman Mike Gamba. “But it isn't our place to advise citizens how to vote.”
Now, let's see what the 'kids' have to say.
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
September 17, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Council OKs West Glenwood house, driveway in hillside zone'
If this had been a similar, stacked deck type of council we've had for the past decade, Scott Balcomb would have never been approved.
“What they've put in front of us is as good as you can get, unless someone wants to buy it as open space,” said Councilman Todd Leahy. He said the lot comes with an entitlement to build, and it wasn't the city's intent to wipe out such entitlements when it imposed the Hillside Preservation Overlay Zone..."
(John Stroud)
How good it is to see leadership that is finally starting to represent more than just a very small faction of the Glenwood Springs community.
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
“What they've put in front of us is as good as you can get, unless someone wants to buy it as open space,” said Councilman Todd Leahy. He said the lot comes with an entitlement to build, and it wasn't the city's intent to wipe out such entitlements when it imposed the Hillside Preservation Overlay Zone..."
(John Stroud)
How good it is to see leadership that is finally starting to represent more than just a very small faction of the Glenwood Springs community.
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
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