From the Aspen Daily News (Curtis Wackerle):
At the Sept. 13 City Council meeting on the hydro plant, council members held off on making a decision to advance the project, which would tap the waters of Castle and Maroon creeks to generate electricity. Instead, council followed a suggestion made by Tim McFlynn, a local professional mediator, and Ruthie Brown, chair of the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams board, to spend at least 30 days working with people on both sides of the hydropower issue in a mediation context.
“Because new voices seem to be emerging every day sounding an alarm that there may be potential unintended consequences or collateral damage to these two creeks or other interests of citizens here.” McFlynn told council on Sept. 13 that up to 60 days is needed so environmentalists and residents, as well as experts in relevant disciplines and a neutral facilitator with a lot of experience in water and energy matters can address the issues surrounding the project…
It’s unclear just how public the process will be, however, as McFlynn and Brown, who have volunteered to plan and convene the mediation and meeting, are working with outside experts and private citizens. The idea is to get everybody in the same room, including people with concerns about the project’s economics, noise and environmental effects, together with an experienced mediator. Experts also will be brought in to analyze data available in the public realm about the project.
“Pre-meetings” with some concerned people already are underway. Much of the proceedings are not expected to take place in public. Some private citizens are considering legal action against the city if the hydro plant is approved.