Twice during the June 3 Lone Tree City Council meeting, Council members referred to me as a reporter. I think they meant me; I looked around and didn't see the other two guys writing.
Up until this point, my perspective has been a citizen trying to make sense of what is said publicly; in honor of my newly City-bestowed sobriquet, I will now occasionally ask clarifying questions outside the meeting.
In Study Session, Public Works Director John Cotten gave an overview of his department, which essentially boiled down to: It needs more budgeted money, especially for road overlay.
The question I asked him later was: How come some storm drains on Yosemite and Lincoln have cinder blocks in front of them?
Answer: Covering storm sewers is required during road construction, so debris and dust don't get in.
Who would have guessed cinder blocks really block cinders?
Lots of presentations at Study Session, including reports from Douglas County
Housing Partnership and Douglas County
Task Force. Most time-consuming was the Lincoln Commons Site Improvement Plan. (SIP)
SIP can also stand for: Session Initiation Protocol (multimedia presentations), Sterilization in Place (food processing), Structural Insulated Panel (energy efficient building), Surgical Infection Protection (medicine), Systematic Investment Plan (financial), begging the question: Is there a worldwide acronym shortage? Except I didn't know who to ask.
In this case, the SIP was artistic renderings of park systems, water features, a 1200-car parking garage, convenience retail near Lincoln, mixed use Town Center including the new cultural facility, a 2500-people casual outdoor amphitheater, architectural towers, faux second stories, and more.
Feeling like I was approaching a judge's bench after the meeting, I asked: Why did the developer keep referring to the library as part of the TownCenter? Didn't the library bond issue fail?
Answer: They may try again next election.
In other news, the sales/use tax increase had a second reading public hearing. Here's a question: Am I noticing Council members looking at me when the public comment announcement is made because
A. They always have, but I never looked up before.
B. They never have and I'm having a psychotic episode.
C. They really think I'm going to say something.
I guess I could think of a few questions.