City Commission Meeting, 7/1/2014~White Lies, Red Herrings, Villarrealisms, Gowen's Definition of A Road, Doroteo's Quick Turn-A-Round

What was billed at the "Battle for 6th Street" turned into a few feeble whimpers.

Tony Martinez had a plane to catch, but so desperately wanted to steer this baby home, that he violated about a dozen tenets of Robert's Rules of Order in the space of 30 seconds:  He tried to impose a time limit on public commenters after one lengthy, but logical citizen comment, mentioned his desire to vote FOR the agenda item in absentia(using his crystal ball to predict a tie vote), then went on to give his personal argument for the event, while still moderating the public discussion, but before consideration by the commission, then just a subliminal "What the Hell!" and turned the meeting over to Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez.  "Estela are you there?"

Below is the revised agenda item: 

6. Public Hearing, and ACTION thereafter, regarding the request to approve the narrowing East 6th Street, from three lanes of traffic to two

lanes, expanding the sidewalk adjacent to the Gladys Porter Zoo property, adding landscaping, and providing a bicycle connection from Belden Trail to East Harrison Street.(Ramiro Gonzalez-Planning and Doroteo Garcia-Engineering) [TABLED ON 06/17/2014]

Ramiro Gonzalez brought along Doroteo Garcia as a presenter to give his glib words engineering bite, but the real outfoxing was in changing the agenda item entirely so as NOT to have a bike lane parallel to the unused Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail slithering through Linear Park(I use the word "unused" because I lack the faith of those in the bike cult who see "over 1,000 daily riders on the trail."  I seldom see anyone using the trail, not being a true worshiper of the bike god.)

Commissioner Ricardo Longoria faked out no one when he argued against the agenda item, but then voted for it.  It's called grandstanding, Ricardo's version of a crossover move.  Maybe if next meeting Longoria argues FOR an agenda item, then votes against it, he will catch us leaning the wrong way and actually score.

Approval came down to smart shopping.  A store offers a one day 20% discount.  You HAVE to buy something or lose your discount.  That was Commissioner Rose Gowen's position, not losing a $150,000 TXdot grant, even if the city had to spend $250,000 to claim it.  Smart shopper, that Rose!

When Longoria and later Tetreau questioned if the rest of the $400,000 for the project, that is $250,000, was coming from the general fund, Rose reasoned:  "Oh no! 6th Street was going to be overlayed anyway, so we're not actually spending more money to get the $150,000 discount."  

Rose Gowen then defined a road:  "A road is not just for cars.  A rode is for people walking.  A road is for people on bikes.  A road is for people pushing a stroller."

Commissioner John Villarreal had heard enough:  "I wish some of the commissioners had mentioned their concerns earlier instead of waiting until the last minute."  Villarreal had used that argument at the town hall meeting on the proposed parking rate increase.  No one threw tomatoes at him then and so he used the argument again.

Mayor Pro Tem Estela Chavez Vasquez closed public comment on the issue in a way that would not have made her 8th grade English teacher proud:  "Is there any other people that have public comment?"

Commissioner Debbie Portillo yearned for the free 150 grand like the rest, but wondered if it was needed elsewhere.  "What about sidewalks on Ringgold Street or improvements in Southmost?  When is the deadline?"

"Well, it's August 28.  But, you understand that, for a new project, plans have to be created.  Then, putting it out for bids, procurement, etc.  We'd maybe have a timeline of only two weeks," Engineer Doroteo countered, winking over at Planner Ramiro.

What Doroteo didn't say(Ramiro will be proud) is that

they had just reworked the original project within two weeks with new drawings, new specs, etc.  and could easily have done it in a day

"Yabba, dabba, dooo!"