Archive for February, 2009
Will Smart Meters Be Cost-Effective?…You Will Decide!
Smart meters are the latest rage and Tallahassee is on the cutting edge. Our electric utility began investigating smart meters before 2005 and received the go ahead to spend approximately $40 million from the City Commission in late 2007.
This puts us ahead of the Texas utility Oncor and Southern California Edision who are spending $690 million and $1.3 billion respectively to roll out smart meters by 2012.
5 Comments Tags: city commission, smart meters, Tallahassee, utilities
An Interview with City Commissioner Mark Mustian
Tallahassee Reports sat down with City Commissioner Mark Mustian to get his view on a number of issues.
What do you think are the most pressing issues facing the City of Tallahassee?
First is what to do with the electric utility. Should we keep it, sell the complete utility, or just the generation? I think we need to move in the direction of selling.
The second issue would be transportation. I think we need to work hard on creating a more robust busing system. This would include more hubs around town so more people would find the system easier to use.
2 Comments Tags: city commission, crossing guards, cultural events, EPER, interview, Mark Mustian, parking program, Tallahassee
Is City Parking Program Another Green Program?
Tallahassee Reports continues to get a number of emails from those affected by the new City of Tallahassee parking program. Most of these emails focus on the fairness issue and the money involved. Click here to see an application for the City Employee Parking program.
A review by Tallahassee Reports indicates that one reason the parking program may be implemented is because it qualifies as a green program.
3 Comments Tags: costs, going green, parking program, Tallahassee
Green Era Priorities Trump Child Safety Programs
In the 2009 budget, the Tallahassee City Commission cut $50,000 from the elementary school crossing guard program and cut another $30,000 by eliminating the DARE program. However, in November of 2008 the City of Tallahassee found $89,000 to donate to the Leon County School system for the “Schools on Solar Program.”
Why?…In a letter, responding to the concerns of Jackie Pons, Leon County School Superintendent, Mayor Marks wrote:
3 Comments Tags: budget, child safety, city commission, crossing guards, cuts, going green, solar panels, Tallahassee
City Commission and City Manager Silent on Tallahassee Transmission Line Problems
Over the last five years the Florida Public Service Commission(FPSC) and the staff of the Tallahassee Electric Utility have documented problems associated with the transmission lines that connect Tallahassee to the Florida electric grid.
Fact 1: At a City Commission Target Issue Workshop in May 2004, electric utility staff pointed out that “regional load growth is outpacing transmission system improvement expansion.” And at a City Commission meeting on September 27, 2006 utility staff discussed the “need for costly improvments to the transmission system owned by other companies.”
1 Comment Tags: city commission, power grid, Tallahassee, transmission lines, utilities
The Creation of the City’s Green Department Not Fully Disclosed to Taxpayers
Facts uncovered by Tallahassee Reports indicates that the information surrounding the creation of the Environmental Policy and Energy Resources (EPER) Department, aka The Green Department, was not fully disclosed to taxpayers.
Fact 1: The newly created Director position, costing citizens approximately $120,000 was not advertised internally or to the public.
No Comments Tags: going green, Tallahassee, taxpayer
An Interview with Cynthia Barber, Director of the City’s Green Department
Tallahassee Reports had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Cynthia Barber, the Director of the Environmental Policy and Energy Resources Department, aka, The Green Department. I found her to be accommodating and well versed in the mission of her newly formed department.
What are your qualifications?
I have an undergraduate degree in Business from FSU and a Masters degree in Public Administration also from FSU. I have worked for the City since 1991. Before my current position I worked in the Utility Business and Consumer Services where my responsibilities included environmental compliance.
2 Comments Tags: Cynthia Barber, going green, interview, Tallahassee
