Sedona AZ (June 20, 2013) – In a Letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Nancy Baer of Sedona Smart Meter Awareness (SSMA) discusses the outcome of the June 19, 2013, Sedona City Council Special Workshop meeting:
Sedona City Council supports community-wide Smart Meter Opt Out
On Wednesday, June 19, the Sedona City Council held a Special Workshop to direct staff’s next steps regarding APS’ plan to install smart meters in Sedona. Both APS and Sedona Smart Meter Awareness (SSMA) presented information about smart meters.
It was standing room only as community members showed up to support the SSMA cause. Because time would not allow everyone who wanted to give public comment, the Mayor allowed 10 speakers all of whom spoke in opposition to Smart Meter installation.
Their testimony is available at http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/06192013-791, part 3A.
The evening was very much like witnessing apples and oranges in regard to “professionalism.” APS gave a superficial presentation and APS representatives Neal Brown, Damon Gross, and Tyler Wallace seemed to be in over their heads when Councilors began asking questions.
Sedona Smart Meter Awareness (SSMA) created a solid, fact-filled PowerPoint presentation delivered by SSMA member, Warren Woodward. All concerns were thoroughly covered: health, safety, privacy, and cost.
APS currently has a proposal on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to charge opt out consumers $75 upfront and $30 more added to their monthly bill.
Every councilor objected to that proposed fee.
At the conclusion of yesterday’s Special Workshop meeting, Councilor Barbara Litrell introduced and Councilor Dan McIlroy seconded the motion to:
“. . . direct the staff to prepare a statement for the Arizona Corporation Commission that expresses concerns, on behalf of our Sedona citizens, that Smart Meters have not been proven safe and until such time as definitive proof exists the Arizona Corporation Commission should allow the Sedona community to opt out without penalties.”
The City will file a letter requesting community opt-out without penalties with the Arizona Corporation Commission. For information about smart meters email sedonasmartmeterawareness@yahoo.com.
Sedona City Council Supports Community-Wide Smart Meter Opt Out – A proud day in Sedona’s history!
Nancy Baer Sedona Arizona
For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
After at least two years of diligent research by a tenacious few, finally by a slim majority of the City Council vote the citizens of Sedona were heard and their concerns appropriately acknowledged by Mayor Rob Adams and Council Members Barbara Litrell, Dan McIlroy, and Mike Ward. And most assuredly the presentations made by Warren, Monnie, and Nancy were the reason for this ultimate but possibly temporary victory. We have no guarantee the Arizona Corporation Commission will comply with the City Council’s request.
Although public speakers were limited to ten, it remained unproven that as the mayor suggested most likely an even number of people in that standing room only attendance were representing both sides of the issue. Without the opportunity for all to speak, how do we know that was a fact? The round of applause at the result of the vote also certainly indicated otherwise.
With a City Council presently considering increasing taxes primarily for the purpose of financing the promotion of “Destination Tourism” on behalf of and for the benefit of two special interest groups (Chamber of Commerce & Lodging Council) this turn of events quite possibly has afforded the opportunity of a lifetime to do that very thing by creating a new slogan for the City without the unsolicited assistance from the Chamber of Commerce: “WHAT BETTER PLACE FOR DESTINATION TOURISTS TO VISIT THAN SEDONA ARIZONA . . . A SMART-METER FREE ZONE.”
Hey City Council, how about just saying “NO” to the vast amount of money the Chamber of Commerce & Lodging Council continue to beg for and suggest their time would be better spent contacting owners of Sedona business properties encouraging them to lower rents in order to assist local businesses to remain in operation.
Does anyone really believe there could be a better or more cost effective means by which to accomplish positive results?
Congratulations and thank you Warren, Monnie, and Nancy.
Eddie Maddock
about time they got some sense
Monnie and Warren and Nancy and others deserve a round of applause for being tenacious, very admirable. I’d like to say I’m disappointed with DORR, we need better Democrats, not rabid dogs fighting over chew bones. This was not a political issue, it was a health and safety issue, and the lack of backbones on the council and in the political parties is embarrassing. I do vote. I will vote better.
First off explain to me Jessica Williamson why you shafted us the people who may have voted for you in the past and not in the future in favor of a monopoly?
Second off I never expect much of you John Martinez and you proved it and keep on proving it like the Energizer Bunny.
Third off why was that Mark Dinunzio voting in favor of big business? That’s right. Mark’s the former banker. Let’s not forgot to thank him for his help bringing on global recession. Can we wonder how much stock he and the others own in APS or their businesses providing their pensions do?
Not trying to correct you “Don”, but only 4 of our Councilmembers “got some sense.” Maybe there is still hope for the other 3, Martinez, Dinunzio and Williamson?
Hey “Bill, uptown” do you ever get as tired as I do listening to one councilman, our buddy John Martinez , who constantly extols and compares the virtues of the “Caleefornya” he decided to leave in order to move to the town he is an elected official in? I don’t get why our Seedonya virtues don’t outweigh where he decided to pick up and leave from. any insight?
Perhaps and in fairness, hasn’t Mark Dinunzio been out of the bank business for a long time? I too was disappointed in his vote. Same with Jessica. Wow! Sometimes I think she starts to make sense and I do enjoy watching her not buckle under Rob’s barbs directed towards her, but this time she did shaft us.
Mayor Adams did a fantastic job at this meeting. I was impressed that he obviously also did research into how a policy maker can make decisions when public health may be at stake. He gave an intelligent explanation regarding his findings about smart meters. Check it out at around 39:48 on 3a (Part 4 of 4).
http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/06192013-791
Thank you, Nancy, for selectively providing the exact location to review Mayor Adams’ astute evaluation and summation. What a pity three members on that City Council served to play the roles of the three proverbial monkeys: See No Evil; Hear No Evil; Speak No Evil.
The APS presentation was one of the most lame, uninformative presentations I’ve ever seen presented by a bunch of novices who couldn’t answer any of Council’s questions without equivocation. And, equivocate they did!
Yet, APS paid their “B” team amateurs handsome salaries and funded, with rate-payers money, this propagandized effort. They couldn’t even recite any real benefits to consumers. Nevertheless, no one on Council even once jumped on the cases of the APS presenters for presenting misleading and incomplete information or giving evasive answers to Council questions. Those guys were treated with a high degree of respect which they didn’t deserve, but, when Warren, Monnie and Nancy presented a far superior case (at their own expense) and thoroughly answered questions, three Council members and the Mayor belligerently pummeled them with obtuse questions, comments and observable hostile demeanor.
APS presented propaganda and Warren/Monnie/Nancy presented hard evidence and competent authorities (third party corroborative testimony) couched in deductive logic for which they were targeted for disdain by Williamson, Ward (although he did vote the right way), and Martinez, as to their presentation, while Warren was targeted for personal admonishment by the Mayor although the Mayor did offer up one of his best summations ever.
But, the only Councilors who acted throughout the meeting with a professional demeanor were Litrell and McIlroy. This is precisely why people across this town have lost all respect for this Council. Their personal animosities always color their thinking rather than facts, authorities, and well-conceived arguments. Most of our Councilors just can’t keep their emotions out of their decision-making processes.
And, finally, does anyone know what the hell Jessica Williamson was rambling on an on about ad nauseum?
The Sedona City Council held a forum recently to discuss the Smart Meter issue, with representatives from APS and the those opposing the use of smart meters having an opportunity to present their views. We believe you need to take the time to view this video. It is about 2 hours long. However, it does address a very controversial subject that deserves our attention.
Big Park Regional Coordinating Council will be putting this issue on their Agenda for the next meeting on July 11th.
http://sedonaaz.swagit.com/play/06192013-791
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APS currently has a proposal on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to charge opt out consumers $75 upfront and $30 more added to their monthly bill.
Every councilor objected to that proposed fee.
At the conclusion of yesterday’s Special Workshop meeting, Councilor Barbara Litrell introduced and Councilor Dan McIlroy seconded the motion to:
“. . . direct the staff to prepare a statement for the Arizona Corporation Commission that expresses concerns, on behalf of our Sedona citizens, that Smart Meters have not been proven safe and until such time as definitive proof exists the Arizona Corporation Commission should allow the Sedona community to opt out without penalties.”
The City will file a letter requesting community opt-out without penalties with the Arizona Corporation Commission. For information about smart meters email sedonasmartmeterawareness@yahoo.com.
Sedona City Council Supports Community-Wide Smart Meter Opt Out – A proud day in Sedona’s history!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a2x6TEeknfo#at=11
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LIVE Updated Presentation – The Most Important Topic
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