“So I guess I have a question for the administration. So as I read the veto letter, there are two issues that I see that were of consequence to the veto. One, of course, is the mitigation of the wetlands, and honestly, I think that could probably be resolved. What I'm trying to understand is the issue with the text amendment versus a UDB application.”

Commissioner Lopez seeking clarification on veto rationale

“So I guess the question I have is as we talk about the UDB application process, we've said it will take a long time. Is there any expedited review under a UDB application given all that we know about this particular project?”

Questioning feasibility of expedited UDB process

“That the mayor could reconsider the text amendment and the wetlands mitigation and I want to make clear about what the issue was with the text amendment versus the UDB application.”

Opening statement regarding motion for reconsideration of a text amendment application

“So as a point of clarity, just so that I understand what Commissioner Regalado said, she is saying that we have encumbered this commission to not only a waste energy facility, but to everything else on the menu. And I just want to understand that. So you're saying that this commission cannot move forward on just a waste to energy facility if it chooses to do so, because it's the only thing we can afford.”

Commissioner Lopez seeking clarification on scope of committed facilities

“There's a bill unfortunately moving through the process in Tallahassee that says that we will not be able to do anything that is more strict than what the state says so in this case if that passes in this case if the state had returned to that application with no comment none of this would be relevant.”

Warning about pending state legislation that could restrict local authority

“The staff told me that it's just the way things are done you transmit it comes back and then they tell you whether they approve or deny I would just caution this board that moving forward when things of this magnitude have these types of concerns this application should never have been transmitted with adoption because it sends a message.”

Advocating for better vetting procedures before transmission to the state

“There were many concerns when it came before us at the zoning and CDMP meeting staff presented us with a two-page list of all the concerns and all I want to say is those concerns should have been brought to this board in July when you first saw this application.”

Criticizing the process by which concerns were presented

“we all know what happened last year in the legislative process where the legislature wanted to actually repeal the statute and not have any CRAs across the state and that was because and not certain that any of the CRAs in our community were considered bad actors but there were bad actors across the state”

discussing state legislative threat to CRAs

“my only question is moving forward whose responsibility is it to make sure so that we don't appear as a bad actor in the future because I don't think this issue is going to go away at the state”

asking about accountability and oversight mechanisms for CRAs