Comments on the post, POLICE PROWLERS GUZZLE GAS prompted a flurry of defenses for the idle arguments.

Fewer Idle Cop Cars

Top Cop Mike Masterson was not happy to hear cars were parked and left running with the doors locked–all it takes is a whack on the window for access to guns, computers, radios, and the car itself.

Fast forward a year later and the city has hired a “Fleet Services Manager” in the person of Craig Croner whose job it is to save gas, negotiate vehicle purchases, and keep every car and truck in the city running safely.

Croner assembled a committee of “users” from all the city departments and came up with a proposed energy and fuel policy with regard to idling vehicles. He says the “break even point” is a mere 30 seconds. Longer than that and it is better to turn off the engine. It seems like a rational policy to us.

Take a look for yourself.

Anti Idling Policy:

I. INTRODUCTION
Vehicle idling gets zero miles per gallon; unnecessary idling wastes fuel and pollutes. Running an engine at low speed (idling) also causes additional wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds. The break-even point for shutting off and restarting gasoline engines or leaving it to idle is 30 seconds – from the point of view of both emissions and fuel consumption. This restriction does not apply to congested traffic, city driving or traffic controls.

Air quality is a critical issue in our area. One of the leading sources of air pollutants of concern is from vehicle tailpipe exhaust. The City of Boise needs to be a leader in reducing sources of these air pollutants. Additionally, the rising cost of fuel makes it imperative that the City of Boise focus on fuel efficiency and cease vehicle idling when not warranted by the situation.

Effective immediately, unless exempted in the following section, no City vehicle or piece of equipment is to be idled in a non-emergency situation. The operator of the vehicle/equipment is to turn-off the unit and the keys are to be removed from the ignition.

II. EXEMPTIONS
The following situations will allow idling, as needed:
A. Emergency vehicles at scenes where lights, Power Take Offs, and/or other accessories are needed to accomplish the mission;
B. Police vehicles working traffic enforcement details;
C. Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation and Boise Airport vehicles at job sites requiring the use of emergency lights, Power Take Offs, and/or other accessories to accomplish their assignment. Planning and Development, PDS Inspector – 2005 or older and non-hybrid vehicles only, while performing inspections.
D. Inclement weather situations and the supervisor authorizes the use of the vehicle/equipment heater-defroster for the work crew’s comfort according to the guidelines listed below;

1. If the outside temperature is: Above 32 degrees F: 5 minute maximum
2. Between -10 and 32 degrees F; 15 minute maximum
3. Below -10 degrees F: as necessary

NOTE: Operators of vehicle/equipment and supervisors will be judicious in the idling of units at emergency scenes and job sites. If not all the units at the scene/site need to be idling, those units must be turned-off and the keys removed from the ignition. Each vehicle/equipment operator will be responsible for the idling operation of their unit and will have the unit keys in their possession to ensure that crewmembers do not arbitrarily violate the policy without the operator’s knowledge.

Supervisors in each department/division will be responsible for the adherence and enforcement of the idling policy. Violations of the policy will be documented as to the vehicle/equipment operator, vehicle class code, location, date and time, weather conditions, and circumstances of the violation.

The vehicle/equipment operator will be informed of the violation by the supervisor at the time of the infraction.

Department Heads will be responsible to ensure this standard of conduct in the use of City vehicles and equipment. Employees have the responsibility to abide by this regulation, violation of which can subject them to progressive disciplinary action.

However, you can still enjoy the great outdoors in downtown Boise of all places where the birds are particularly active this time of year along the river.

The GUARDIAN took a brief walk along the banks of the river near the children’s playground at Ann Morrison Park Saturday and was surprised at the bird activity. The sky was alive with the sounds of Canada geese honking and the toy-like squeaks of American wigeons.

While were were captivated by the action of thousands of geese landing and taking off in the afternoon winter sun, we glanced up to the breathtaking sight of a bald eagle soaring peacefully in big lazy circles.

Suddenly five gulls began chasing the majestic bird–like fighter planes going after a bomber. That action continued for several minutes.

If you want to enjoy the free show, take a walk along the river, especially in the area of Ann Morrison Park. Be sure to take your camera and binoculars.

Comes now the cheerleaders for growth and football fans. The GUARDIAN wonders if the “National Exposure” on ESPN that is always touted as worth hundreds of thousands to the economy will cause the same monetary LOSS when the world sees how filthy the Boise Valley can be–naturally. When ESPN does that long shot of the sun filtered through the smoke or the copper colored full moon will it cause “bad exposure?”

Hard to put much stock in dire warnings from the Boise Schools when they keep the kids inside and curtail athletics due to health concerns, but a college football game forges ahead because ESPN has spent so much money to air (smoke?) the game.

When the crowds file into the stadium tonight to watch the football game through the haze it will add new meaning to the phrase, “DIE HARD BRONCO FANS.”

Red flags pop up when an industrial company like Hoku Scientific of Hawaii announces plans to locate a new Solar Panel Manufacturing plant at a site somewhere along our Snake River.

When someone wants to put a plant next to a river it isn’t because they want to help the environment! Why along the river and why in Idaho? The Daily Paper and Lame Duck Guv Risch tout “300 jobs” as a good reason to welcome an industrial plant.

Hoku said they decided to locate here because of “Tax Incentives and Tax Breaks” provided by Idaho state government. In light of the secret policy of the Tax Commission toward Cabela’s, we need to find out fast just exactly what is being given away to Hoku.

Like most silicon based technology manufacturing, solar panel production consumes massive amounts of electricity. The Hoku spokesperson was also quoted in the Daily Paper saying that Idaho’s “cheap” electricity was another reason for choosing Idaho over Singapore. Idaho Power’s most recent attempts to raise residential power rates cited record power consumption as one justification for price hikes.

They didn’t say anything about “cheap labor” in a right to work state, but you can bet that was hyped by our state procurers. Also not mentioned were the processes used to convert silicon into useable products.

Who pays for the incentives and tax breaks the politico gang is giving this company? Even with the skewed “pie in the sky” benefits used to justify this sellout (giveaway?), how many of these 300 jobs will go to current residents of Idaho? Of those jobs that “may” be filled by “Idahoans,” how many will be “good paying?” Will this deal reduce MY taxes? We need answers before embracing this babe.

When business orders exceed production capacity, most businesses use their own profits for expansion. Idaho Power merely approaches the P.U.C. and says they need to raise OUR rates to pay for their new generation and distribution systems. By law Idaho Power has to meet the demands of its customers (in exchange for the monopoly rights). With a big consumer like Hoku in the mix, don’t look for any good news soon.

High tech manufacturing has been deceitfully billed as clean and non-polluting. Not so.
Check out some of these often found skull and crossed bones ingredients: dopants such as arsenic, boron, antimony, phosphorus and compounds like arsine, phosphine, silane. Liquids like hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid.

No matter how these deadly chemicals are used, handled and stored at the manufacturing sites, the possibility exists they will be released through fire, earthquake, theft or other means. Even the benign sounding Hydrogen Peroxide was referenced as a major explosive component in the recently revealed English terrorist plot to blow up airliners. The new chemicals are transported to the plants over our roads and through our airports. The used/contaminated chemicals that are not consumed on site are also shipped to other areas for disposal. We don’t need more hazardous material in Idaho, let alone “along the Snake River.”

Maybe Lame Duck Guv has a point. Chum more deadly chemicals that may end up in the water or air. There are too many healthy people here anyway. West Nile Virus and Dibrom haven’t helped much to improve the medical economy. Or maybe we should just ask for a big, wet, kiss because we have certainly been screwed!

Dumping commercial runoff into Boise Parks is not new. WinCo (between Myrtle and Front Streets) cut a deal with deposed mayor Brent Coles to route their parking lot water into Julia Davis Park in exchange for a “donated” sign (reportedly worth $50,000) on Capitol Blvd. several years ago. They claim to have a “state of the art” filtration system, but when it comes to separating antifreeze and de- icing chemicals from water, it takes some technology. We are not aware of any monitoring of the discharge into the lagoon.

One reason the Bench-Depot neighbors aren’t screaming too loudly is because they fear water collected onsite and allowed to seep out could take a right turn and ooze out the face of the rim and make a mess of the existing upscale Park Center Apartment complex. In fact, there has been a long standing problem with irrigation water saturating the area and spewing from the hillside.

A similar thing happened years ago along Warm Springs Avenue after septic tank seepage from Warm Springs Mesa caused mud slides. The cure was a sewer system.

In the case of the Crescent Rim condo development, there is no problem–YET. There are no condos or parking lot, but that is comming soon. Looks like the city will “bail” the developer out of a water problem. The proposal on the table calls for a discharge rate of about 450 gallons per minute–which will occur only during rain storms of heavy snow melt.

We question the wisdom–and propriety–of discharging runoff into the waters of the little known stream which meanders along the base of the rim within the park. This deal needs to have public scrutiny before Boise City becomes the facilitator to action which could cause an environmental impact.

The proposed 1 CFS discharge of water into the public stream needs to be monitored closely BEFORE it is a done deal.

The GUARDIAN also has long been concerned about the legality of Drainage District #3 having taxing authority, but none of the commissioners is elected. A law office sends names to a judge to APPOINT these three guys. It seems highly irregular to allow absolutely no public vote for officials who have authority to tax our property. These are the guys who are a party to cutting the deal with the developer who doesn’t want to follow the law and collect surface runoff on site.

Three headlines in the printed paper Thursday demonstrate a certain “dope reporter “ mentality. They detail a problem with vehicle air pollution in one story and even acknowledge growth as a cause. The story below crows about 14% growth in Meridian and describes Boise’s .2% growth as “anemic.” Obviously they think growth is “healthy”–even if all those new people can’t breath once they get here!

They also offered a headline saying white water rafting is “still a hit” despite a couple of recent fatalities. That story went on to say folks died despite wearing life jackets and helmets.

Conclusion: Growth is good even if you breath poisoned air and rafting is fun even if some people die. Statesman gets a “Dope Staff Award” on Thursday’s paper.

The story about a report to be released by a regional panel on the subject of air pollution was full of irony.

One of the plans is expanded emission testing, according Peter O’Neil, chairman of the panel appointed by former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. Ironically the staffers at the regional COMPASS planning agency said growth in the valley will soon overwhelm any benefits of an expanded testing program.

The true irony is that O’neal is one of the biggest developers and growthoholics in Boise and has brought us most of the rooftops along the river and especially Surprise Valley” which has all those crowded dwellings near the Highway 21 bridge east of Boise. Each of those homes has a car or two or three pushing pollution into our air.

The GUARDIAN has a simple answer which should appeal to any self respecting growthophobe. A simple law which says: “THOU SHALT NOT POLLUTE”.

Testing does nothing to create clean air–it only costs money for those who have newer cars which have converters and computers. “Old Smokeys” are exempt along with a bunch of others like tractors, big trucks and lawn mowers.

We think modern testing methods set up along major roads–just like radar–would serve to catch and fine polluters. That way, ANYONE from ANYWHERE would be subject to the rules. Proceeds go to more enforcement and pollution abatement.

We certainly don’t allow out-of-county drivers to speed through the county. We test them with radar and fine ‘em if they violate. Same with drunk drivers. A big rig dripping a pint of insecticide could close the freeway and tie up traffic traffic for hours, but the same diesel truck could belch smoke into the air from Mountain Home to Nampa with no complaints from local regulators.

The other pollution solution is to simply slow or stop the developments.

Laguna Pointe sounds pretty sweet – 56 big lots along a 43-acre lake with
sandy beaches and bass fishing.

Only time will tell if those 56 new well-heeled families will join their Island
Woods neighbors in future lawsuits. (Laguna Pointe IS in the flood plain.) We didn’t make the Eagle Council meeting, but no doubt the houses are to be raised enough so only the lawns will flood in the future.

Gas price in Boise
In a bizarre twist of fate, Boise currently (as of 4/24) has the lowest gas prices across the Fruited Plain, according to www.gasbuddy.com .

Even more bizarre – neither the governor’s office nor the mayor’s office has taken credit for our unusual good fortune.

You can bet some gas company mid-manager is taking the heat for not upping the local out-of-the-spigot price. That ain’t right! The local motorists have to do their part to pay for the retiring Exxon CEO’s $400 million golden parachute. I expect the “problem” to be fixed within a few days – a week at the most.

Also interesting to note – nobody is calling for an Attorney General’s investigation into the disparity in gas prices! And transplanted Californians aren’t lamenting that they can’t pay Rodeo Drive prices to gas up their Hummers and Jaguars.

Good-mileage vehicle snobbery
I haven’t seen much of it here locally yet, but apparently in many big cities, the people who can afford to drive a Toyota Prius or a Lexus Hybrid SUV are driving around with an air of superiority, and writing letters to the editor, criticizing the unwashed masses who aren’t doing their part.

I can identify! I abandoned my car for a bicycle long before it became fashionable – in January 1985. (Nearly 110,000 bike miles ago, and coincidentally, 110,000 mpg.)

A couple notes of clarification are in order. The Missus has a mini van that is available for the occasional local errand, if I grovel appropriately. It would be difficult to operate in society, at least in our wide open western spaces, without motorized wheels. But I haven’t driven a car to work – even once – since September 1987. And don’t misunderstand – I’m not a 42-beats-per-minute, 3-percent-body-fat type, like Lance Armstrong. I’m a middle-aged fat guy.

Besides the obvious economic benefits, bicycle-commuting makes me feel superior in every way to the pathetic slugs in their motor vehicles. (Especially the would-be macho guys, driving to work alone with their sack lunch, in a Hummer or a huge Dually Turbo-Diesel pickup. I recollect the theories about middle-age guys who drive Corvettes or Porsches, to make up for… um… “deficiencies” in other areas.) When I come up next to a Prius, if the window is down, I belittle the driver on account of his terrible fuel mileage! Is it OK for me to ride around with my nose in the air?

One thing more pious than a Prius is a Nun on a two wheeler! Bike Boy took a lesson from Bike Sister in Italy…it’s all religion to us.

The annual bring-’em-to-their knees boycott.
I got my first one for 2006 today, in the e-mail. (Strangely, from a friend in Meridian who obviously doesn’t recognize our good fortune on the gas-price front.)

The passed-along, passed-along, passed-along message is encouraging me to help tame the two rampaging oil giants – Exxon and Mobil – by only buying gas at other outlets.

Silly! (Snopes has an explanation why it won’t work. http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp If you’re thinking it’s a stroke of economic genius, you can also get 5 or 6 versions of the letter that’s circulating. Get to e-mailing!)

Liberals and conservatives are united in demanding that the gubmint do something about the spiraling gas prices. Obviously they’re too young to remember the last gas pricing fix, in the early seventies. In the case of the conservatives, they’re deluded somehow into believing the economic principles of supply and demand don’t apply to fuel, like they do to everything else. As long as people are willing to pay $3 for gas, don’t be surprised if it costs $3. If you won’t pay $3, the newly-affluent Chinese will pay more than that, as they pursue The American Dream.

“Guardian, I bet your readers would be interested in talking about the threatened lawsuit against the federal and state agencies by the homeowners in Eagle Island arguing that government is not doing enough to stop the flooding. Yes, that’s right, the homeowners who knowingly bought their house in the flood plain plan to sue the government for their predicament.”

It is not nice to fool Mother Nature, but the folks who own those pricey houses in the flood zone on Eagle Island are rattling their upscale sabers with legal threats aimed at the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, EPA, Idaho Water Resources, Ada County, and the City of Eagle.

We hate to quote George Bush, but the GUARDIAN says, “Bring it on!”

If the Island Woods Homeowners Association has enough cash to fund a court battle against the city, county, state AND federal government it will be worth the price of admission to watch. Wonder how many Idaho Natives are in that group!

The heart of their gripe is they want the Boise River diverted from the south channel because their president, Ric Tenner, thinks the north channel should carry 70% of the river flow.

We hate to set up Tenner as a target for GROWTHOPHOBES, but when he went on camera asking to be “saved” he wasn’t generating much sympathy from any of the government folks or those of who can’t affort to live in the hills or along the river.

Gravity lesson for new home owners: Idaho water flows DOWNWARD to the lowest point.

To get accurate, unobstructed stream flow measurements, hydrologists ride out to the middle of the river upstream from the Glenwood bridge on a little cable car. They lower an airplane looking device into the water and the current turns the “propeller” to indicate the water speed which is combined with the depth to calculate the CFS.

The flooding is cause for poking fun at the TV reporters who like to wade in the water–bare legged or with boots–on camera.

It has also prompted calls to insurance agents about flood insurance–there is a waiting period and it costs about $12 per $1,000 worth of coverage. That’s $3,600 for a $300,000 house and there aren’t many that cheap along the river.

Then there is the classification of one of the “most threatened” rivers in the country, thanks in part to a proposed gold mine near Atlanta on the Middle Fork of the Boise. Developers say their plan to use a cyanide leaching process to extract the gold from the ore is “bulletproof.” Those of us who take our drinking water and fish out of the river aren’t eager to see if our Kevlar vests are effective. Doubt if you see this “national recognition” on the Boise City or Chamber of Commerce web sites.

Finally, remember the hassle about the “warning signs” the GUARDIAN wanted along the river when the tree blocked the flow? Must be “risk management” and legal folks had a change of heart and allowed the Parks Dept. to warn people of danger spots.