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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 0508 minThe Plainview City Council met on May 8, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 901 Broadway. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall at 4:45 p.m. on May 4, 2012. Mayor John C. Anderson presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes - District 1, Cathy Waggoner - District 2, David Garcia - District 3, V. O. Ortega- District 4, Ron Trusler- District 5, Wendell Dunlap- District 6 and Roland Nash - District 7. Staff members present were: Greg Ingham -City Manager, Jeffrey Snyder- Assistant City Manager, Leslie Pearce -City Attorney, Mike Gilliland- Director of Public Works, Will Mull - Police Chief, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Daniel Born - Information Technology Specialist, Eric Turner -Main Street/CVB Coordinator and Belinda Hinojosa -City Secretary. News Media Present: Jessica Thornton - Plainview Herald Guests Present: Sara Curtis, Courtney Cummings, and Brandy Pierce Councilmember Ron Trusler delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Mayor Anderson presented Keys to the City to Belinda Hinojosa, Leslie Pearce and Greg Ingham in recognition of loyal and dedicated service. Councilmember Dunlap moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved on the consent calendar included the approval of the minutes of April 19, 2012, April 24, 2012 and May 3, 2012. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration Resolution R12 -268, a Resolution of the City of Plainview Denying Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas Division's ( "Atmos West Texas ") Requested Rate Change; Requiring the Company to Reimburse the City's Reasonable Ratemaking Expenses; Finding that the Meeting at Which this Resolution is Passed is Open to the Public as Required by Law; Requiring Notice of this Resolution to the Company and the City's Legal Counsel. Mayor Anderson announced that Councilmember Ortega has declared a conflict of interest and will refrain from discussion or voting on the matter. On February 7, 2012, Atmos Energy Corporation, West Texas Division filed with the members of Steering Committee of Cities Served by Atmos West Texas Cities that exercise original jurisdiction over the Company's rates, a request for a system -wide rate increase by approximately $11.6 million. Cities passed resolutions suspending the effective date of the proposed increase to allow Cities' attorneys and consultants to study the request. Scheduling difficulties have precluded representatives of the Company, Amarillo, Lubbock, and the Steering Committee from meeting to discuss settlement. The West Texas Cities consultants found justification that there should be a reduction in the Company's current rates. One interesting aspect of this particular rate case is that in Atmos' original filing, 11 cities were actually shown to get decreases. Plainview is one of those cities and the proposed decrease is 0.7% or about $37,559. While that may seem like a positive outcome for Plainview, one of the major thrusts of this rate City Council Minutes May 8, 2012 Page 1 of 3 101 102 case is to address the system as a whole and this is the first time it has been addressed in that manner in quite some time. So even given this interesting option, your staff recommends that the City of Plainview deny the proposed rate increase and continue participation in the case with the West Texas Cities. The West Texas Cities' Executive Committee recommends the Cities pass resolutions denying Atmos West Texas' proposed rate increase. The denial resolution will prevent the Company's proposed rate increase from automatically taking effect on June 11, 2012, and allow more time to engage in settlement discussions. Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Waggoner moved to approve Resolution R12 -3572. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Starnes and carried with a vote of seven "for" the motion and one abstention. Jeffrey Snyder, Assistant City Manager presented for consideration on second reading, Ordinance No. 12 -3572, an Ordinance Amending The Zoning Map Of The City Of Plainview, Texas For Rezoning From A Single- Family Residential (R -2) Zoning District To A Commercial Retail Business (C -2) Zoning District Said Parcel Being S135.36' Block 43, Lakeside Addition, City Of Plainview, Hale County, Texas The Same Being Located At 1802 Quincy Street; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; And Effective Date. Since this was the second of two readings, the Council chose to forego the staff briefing and asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Waggoner moved to adopt Ordinance No. 12 -3572 on second reading. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Starnes and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Anderson moved to go into closed session to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee, or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee. [Tex. Gov't. Code, Section 551.074]. Appointments to the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Anderson recessed the meeting at 7:17 p.m. Mayor Anderson called the meeting back in open session at 7:32 p.m. Councilmember Nash moved to appoint the following to the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee: Ron Gammage as Chairman, Frances Barrera, John Bertsch, Aaron Byrd, Michael Carroll, Christine Cummings, Paul Drager, Rick Garcia, Alfred Henderson, Paul Henderson, Don Hill, Harry Kotaiya, Chris LeFevre, Ricky Mason, Willis McCutcheon, Katherine Pressley, Charles Starnes, Kim Street, Phyllis Wall and Kent Webb. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous vote. City Council Minutes May 8, 2012 Page 2 of 3 There being no further business, Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m. .L4Lt_6 Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes May 8, 2012 Page 3 of 3 103