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TUCSON - For the first time since power was taken away from the City of Tucson, a new Rio Nuevo board met Tuesday afternoon.

First on their to-do list is debate of the TCC hotel project.

Along Granada Avenue is where the hotel would sit, along with new meeting and exhibit space.

Many on the new Rio Nuevo board are pumped, but some downtown business owners are less enthusiastic.

El Charro has been a downtown staple since 1968. Owner Raymond Flores calls Rio Nuevo a failure; he says projects stall before getting off ground.

"Terrible terrible waste of money on consultants I mean it's unbelievable what we've spent," says Flores.

So to reel it in, 13 people, including nine fresh faces have been appointed by the state legislature to oversee the city's handling of the project.

"I guarantee these folks have a vested interest in making this succeed. They live here too, it's their community," says board chair Jeff DiGregorio.

He says the first order of business is the Convention Center Hotel. Many feel future gem shows, convention and tourism dollars depend on it.

However, Flores disagrees, "I don't know if a hotel will be of any consequence to draft a lot for business to Tucson."

Flores openly opposed Rio Nuevo. His wife hopes to change that opinion. Carlotta Flores now sits on the board. Governor Brewer hand picked the executive chef, considering her strong ties to downtown and 30 plus years running El Charro with her husband.

So what's his highest hope?

"We put together some ideas that will stop the idiotic spending that's all we've had in the past," says Flores.

If the hotel opens as planned, it would be around July of 2012.