elpasospeak

The residents living around Escondido Drive in west El Paso had their meeting with some of the city’s staff Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 6PM.

One of the attendees gave us an earful about what happened.

This is what we understood from the resident:

Evidently the meeting started with a city employee thanking everyone for their attendance and then informing the crowd (60 or so people) that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the public about what the city is going to do (in other words the decisions have already been made).

It went downhill from there.

The presenter then told the group that questions would not be taken until the city people were through making their presentation.

The project was categorized as “the restriping of Escondido”.  It was explained that restriping involves considering changes that have occurred since the last painting as well as other things that the staff thinks are a good idea.  Oh, and by the way, staff is required to consider the city’s adopted bicycle plan when restriping.   But the crowd needed to understand that this was really just a maintenance issue and new bicycle paths were just incidental to the project.

That explanation flies in the face of the letter that the city sent selectively to some residents:

Some residents informed the staff that the design that will be implemented is defective and then pointed out ways that bicycles could be accommodated without destroying traffic flow and endangering safety.  City staff evidently argued aggressively with some of the citizens.

At one point a resident asked “How do we stop this?”.  He was told that staff would not stop implementation but that the residents would have to take the matter up with city council.

We deserve better

Brutus

A reader sent this in:

The City Engineering department had an industry call Monday with contractors.  On 10/17/17 they are releasing a bid package to re-pave 135 streets in El Paso – residential and arterial streets.  Total value $37 million.  The bid package will name the streets that will be re-paved.  Contract to be awarded February 2018 and start date March 2018 with a 2-year completion for all 135 streets.  Should be interesting to see how they award this one.  They don’t know if they will award to multiple contractors or 1 contractor.  Not sure if any locals other than  Jordan or Sundt can bond $37 million.

We deserve better

Brutus

Other than the freeway work and the city’s pothole teams, is anyone seeing any street rebuilding/resurfacing happening in the neighborhoods?

We deserve better

Brutus

Those of you who from time to time watch portions of our city council meetings have probably noticed that more and more often important agenda items are read by the city clerk and then voted on with absolutely no discussion.

The results are being wired beforehand.

We deserve better

Brutus

This came in from a resident of the neighborhood that would be affected by the proposal:

Classic

It uses the same bait and switch technique that the city has been using for years.

The text of the document tells us that the purpose of the meeting is “to inform the public of plans for the installation a a bike lane along Escondido Drive from Resler to Broadmoor”.

The graphic however shows the bike lane running from Resler to Los Robles.  The link provided on the meeting notice shows the bike lane going all the way up to Broadmoor and then back down Thunderbird.

We saw the same kind of thing when we voted on a proposed “Heritage Cultural Center” that later became an “Hispanic Cultural Center”.  Now the city refers to it as a “Mexican American Cultural Center”.

The multipurpose performing art and entertainment center that we voted on is now “the arena”.  According to news reports the city manager at the time knew that letting the public know that the facility would be used for sports would hurt its chances of passing.

Gravity and collisions

Escondido from Los Robles to Broadmoor is narrow and steeply uphill.  Residences on much of the length have little parking and short driveways.  Cars park on both sides of the street and narrow the usable roadway even more.

The meeting notice did not ask for public input.  Instead its purpose is to inform the public.

It might be a good idea to attend the meeting and inform the city staff of what you think.

We deserve better

Brutus