Aug 23, 2010 - AH Council Meeting (video)
Video provided by Bill Kiel.
Aug. 23, 2010 AH Council Meeting Video (See city agenda - will open new window so video will continue).
1. Approval of Minutes of the August 9, 2010 City Council Meeting
2. City Manager’s Report
3. Citizens to be Heard
4-7. Consent Items
8. A Resolution adopting Revised Rules
9. Ordinances determining that a charter amendment should be submitted to the voters
12. Restrict drive-through facilities discussion
13. Proposed revision of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fees
14. Presentation of proposed location of the Community Garden
| Agenda |
Action |
Approved Minutes |
written by Lawyer Lucy , September 05, 2010
written by BUD , September 03, 2010
"IT'S TIME HAS COME!" translation = I'm the Mom/ Dad and it's because I said so!
written by BUD , September 02, 2010
written by Matt D , September 02, 2010
written by Common Sense , September 02, 2010
I am not against "green" per se but do believe we need a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to signing contracts. What are we getting into?
If there is a benefit to the community with little or fiscal impact, then by all means participate.
My biggest objection was to the apparent lack of interest on the part of Council who said they were going to watch what the City did very carefully. This had never been presented before and could have been passed with little or no consideration had it not been for curious citizens.
This is no way to run a city.
written by TJW , September 01, 2010
As my grandfather the General always said "IF YOU ARE GONNA LEAD THEN YOU BETTER READ"!
written by AHMatron , September 01, 2010
written by Helen K , September 01, 2010
I would like to thank the citizens that caught this one.
written by Ben , September 01, 2010
This from a new Councilman's flyer, "You can trust that I will, as your elected representative, make informed decisions with our combined best interests at heart -- for the near and long term."
Not too well informed as we can see now.
written by Whistler , September 01, 2010
written by BUD , September 01, 2010
written by Common Sense , September 01, 2010
I would ask you to check the link I put up and read the material there. Then you should ask yourself:
"If there is no cost to the City, why do you need a contract? " A contract is a binding agreement to do certain things in exchange for something else.
The problem is that the EPA is setting the rules. I fear that Matt is right when he says we will have electric by government.
written by AHMatron , September 01, 2010
written by Bungalow Betty , September 01, 2010
written by TJW , September 01, 2010
MATT D - DITTO
As my grandfather the General always said "IF YOU ARE GONNA LEAD THEN YOU BETTER READ"!
written by Matt D , September 01, 2010
written by Patriot , September 01, 2010
I did watch the video and I agree with your observations. Thank goodness for Council McCormick.
written by Common Sense , September 01, 2010
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/...index.htm
Only 2 Texas cities, Helotes and Universal City, are participating. The vast bulk of cities are located in the Northeast, primarily Oregon- where they don't need air conditioning.
What would they know about electric use during a really hot Texas summer?
This looks more and more like a "Green" scam we should stay away from.
written by Common Sense , September 01, 2010
1. It is clear that Council had never heard about this program before that night. I want to thank Mr. McCormick for pointing out that this was not appropriate for the consent agenda.
2. It is clear to me that this item did not go through any Committee. Mr.Weser asks about costs as if it came from some other committee - when it should have come through the committee he and Mr.Prassel sit on. Is this the fast track Mr.Weser thinks we need? Where is the thoughtful consideration of the project and the careful vetting of the impact?
3. A significant question to be asked is do we want the EPA in our backyard? What is the impact on residents and businesses for electric costs? While I note that Mr.Weser asked about the costs, I would also point out that he did not dig deep enough.
Mr. Prassel says he thought the cost was 10K but I can't find what he was talking.
Mr. Eddy says this is nothing more than ceremonial and is because we have 3% usage of windtricity. However, I checked the EPA website and there is more to this than meets the "free advertising and notoriety" that Eddy describes. There are specific requirements which allow a mandated minimum purchase.
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/documents/gpp_partnership_reqs.pdf
Green Energy Partnership Requirements
Summary
• Partner organizations can join at a facility level up to an organization-wide commitment (U.S. facilities only).
• Partner organizations must buy green power in amounts proportional to their annual electricity use.
• Eligible renewable resources include wind, solar, geothermal, qualifying biomass, and low-impact hydropower.
• Partner organizations can meet the minimum purchase requirements with any of the following products (either singly or in combination): renewable energy certificates (RECs), utility green pricing products, utility green marketing products, or on-site power generation from eligible renewable resources.
• Partner organizations must meet the minimum purchase requirements with electricity produced from “new” renewable facilities.
• EPA holds the right to reevaluate and update the Partnership requirements at any time.
written by Common Sense , August 30, 2010
I appreciate that the items are shown in their entirety. I also agree that the tapes will encourage civility and it will leave a permanent record that cannot be distorted in the future. This is transparency at its best.
written by wfkiel , August 30, 2010
I plan on continuing the taping and making them available to MyAlamoHeights.com and I've recruited a couple of others to help. I agree with you that it helps to inform the citizenry and will hopefully bring more civility as well. Its important to note that every agenda item will be shown in its entirety, unless there's a camera malfunction, and no editing will be done. Sometimes unsubstantiated claims have been made from both perspectives and the tapes may help to moderate that. If anyone has any suggestions for how to improve the process, let me know. I know the quality isn't great but I can't upload much more data to the server.
written by Tom T , August 30, 2010
written by Bungalow Betty , August 27, 2010
PS Mr. Kiel, uploading the Videos is proving to be a great service for our community. It is the talk of the town and people are watching them. Thank you.
written by Sarah Reveley , August 27, 2010
written by wfkiel , August 27, 2010
The first one is http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/om_easy.shtml
"Texas Open Meetings Law Made Easy - Frequently Asked Questions"
It is from the Texas Attorney General's Office.
The second website is from the Texas Municipal League
https://www.tml.org/Handbook-M&C/Chapter1.pdf
and is titled "Local Government in Texas".
written by That' DR to you , August 26, 2010
It comes very close to the attitude that Government knows best and the rest of us should sit down and shut up.
One termer.
written by Matt D , August 26, 2010
written by Canis villaticus , August 25, 2010
written by Sarah , August 25, 2010
written by H Myers , August 25, 2010
written by Ben , August 25, 2010
"IT'S TIME HAS COME!!" What kind of reason is that?
It's time for Lysol and sunlight if you ask me.
written by Maxwell312 , August 25, 2010
I also didn't buy his excuse that he had goggled the ordinance he proposed. If he copied it from another city website it would have been correctly written. The guy is having trouble with e mail but he is a google master. Doesn't he know that everything legal needs to go through the CITY attorney to make sure the city doesn't get sued down the line.
Anybody seen JAK lately?
written by Sarah , August 25, 2010
written by Tom T , August 25, 2010
written by Pam Kiel , August 25, 2010
His Nagging Wife
written by SAR , August 24, 2010
Nothing she said that I could see was truly unwarranted. One Councilmen does not understand what being a Council member entails and he continues to bumble round. Government by Google is not usually recommended.
He has come very close to breaking the law and does not appear to care for the process or why things are done a certain way. It also appears that he doesn't want to learn.
Rude is the word I would use to describe the Council member who persistently interrupts his colleagues and the Mayor. Some politicians like to hear the sound of their own voices a little too much. It is fine to try and persuade the other Councilmen to see your point, but monopolizing the conversation is rarely an effective technique.
I must praise Mr. Savage for recognizing the point that the citizens made about openness, as well as Mr. Rosenthal's sage advise about potential litigation. Mr. Savage was willing to listen and not become indifferent to the points made during the evening.
The other two new members seemed ready to throw process out the window along with the laws that set the process.
I should also point out that for being deficit hawks, they were quite willing to spend money on an election for something that they could not articulate and ultimately described as not being urgent. This is quite troubling and inconsistent.
We all must remember that this was only the 4th meeting for the new members. Perhaps more observation and less takeover mentality would help them adjust more quickly.
written by J Armstrong , August 24, 2010
I think all of us and Council, owe Bettac, Kiel and Houston a big thank you. If you watch and listen to the tape #9 "Charter Amendment" at the very end Councilman McComick ask Mr. Eddy if the ordinance/charter changes was on the city WEB site. Mr. Eddy seemed surprised, smiles and says no, and he stated they had just finished it and even made a change to it that day. The Council had not seen nor read the document. They were going to vote, to take to the voters a document they had not even read!!!! Am I missing something here?
Thanks citizens, this was a good catch and probably kept the city out of trouble. I do think there is a lot of support for IRR, it will be good. What I got from the video was, there is support for these changes, but what about other citizens who what to offer suggestions or changes to the Charter. Where is their afforded opportunity to do so.
I have a lot more items I would like to discuss but my head hurts, more later. Mr. Kiel thanks for the video.
written by Ben , August 24, 2010
Mr. Keil has done a great service to the citizens.
I don't know this Maggie person but she seems to know a lot and certain councilmen really ticked her off. I need to go back and watch videos from the last meeting to see what I missed.
written by Tom T , August 24, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Kiel for taping the council session. I hope you will continue to do so. Mr. Winger, was also right on point. I also appreciate Kiel and Bettac for defending the right of citizens to be informed. Thanks to all. Great Job.
written by Broadway Joe , August 24, 2010
written by Bungalow Betty , August 24, 2010
written by SAR , August 24, 2010
Maggie Houston gave a magnificent speech, everybody needs to listen. ;-)
Sarah, you are absolutely right. This was a stellar example of our 1st Amendment rights at work. This is how citizens keep their government in check and hold them responsible.




I'm getting back to work at the Tuna Electric Company. You have a nice day Pearl.
Dixie