HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 0325 Council minutesThe Plainview City Council met on March 25, 2014 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 4:53 p.m. on March 21, 2014. Mayor Wendell Dunlap
presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes - District 1, Cathy Waggoner -
District 2, David Garcia - District 3, V. O. Ortega- District 4, Susan Blackerby- District 5,
Lionel Garcia - District 6 and Eric Hastey- District 7.
Staff members present were: Greg Ingham -City Manager, Jeffrey Snyder- Assistant City
Manager, Leslie Pearce -City Attorney, Ken Coughlin - Police Chief, Mike Gilliland -
Director of Public Works, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Isauro Gutierrez - Information
Technology Specialist, Sarianne Beversdorf- Director of Finance and Belinda Hinojosa-
City Secretary.
Guests Present: Larry Williams, Teressa King, Bill Wells, Kevin Carter, Louis Flores,
Cara Hilbrich and Jeff Foley.
Councilmember V. O. Ortega delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of
allegiance.
Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Lionel Garcia and carried by unanimous vote. Items
approved on the consent calendar included the approval of the minutes of February 20,
2014 and February 25, 2014; approval of the financial reports; and approval of
Resolution R14 -308, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas,
Approving the Request of Wayland Baptist University to Host the "Wayland Wellness
Run and Walk IV "; Authorizing the Filing of the Agreement for the Temporary Closure of
State Right -Of -Way With the Texas Department of Transportation for this Road Race;
Declaring that the Event Serves a Public Purpose; and Agreeing to Comply With
Regulations.
Mayor Dunlap called on George Meriwether, Davis, Kinard & Co. PC to present the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Mr. Meriwether introduced Cara Hilbrich,
manager on the audit. He said the City received an unmodified opinion, which is a
clean opinion on the city's financial statement. He said the City retained their AA-
rating. The City's records are in good condition and accounting staff does a really great
job and they receive good cooperation. They appreciate the opportunity to serve as the
City's independent auditors.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Starnes moved to accept the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember David Garcia and carried by
unanimous vote.
Belinda Hinojosa, City Secretary presented for consideration Resolution R14 -309, a
Resolution of the City of Plainview Designating the Early Voting Ballot Board Judge;
Designating the District Polling Place Judges; and Setting Hourly Rate for Election
Officials. She stated the Resolution sets out Valerie Castillo as Early Voting Ballot
Board Judge and District 3 Polling Place Judge and Sally Salinas as District 4 Polling
Place Judge. It sets the salary for election judges at $10.00 per hour and $8.00 per
hour for election clerks.
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Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Blackerby moved to adopt Resolution R14 -309. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Ortega and carried by unanimous vote.
Mrs. Hinojosa presented for consideration Resolution R14 -310, a Resolution Canceling
the May 10, 2014 Regular Election for Councilmembers for Districts 1 and 2 and
Declaring Each Unopposed Candidate Elected to Office. She stated Districts 1 and 2
races were uncontested and state law allows an entity to cancel their election for that
district and declare those candidates elected. District 1 candidate Charles Starnes and
District 2 candidate Larry A. Williams were unopposed. They however cannot take office
until after election day and until the election canvas period.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Ortega moved to adopt Resolution R14 -310. The motion was duly
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner and carried by unanimous vote.
Mr. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration on second reading,
Ordinance No. 14 -3608, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Plainview,
Texas, Approving a Negotiated Settlement Agreement Between the Steering Committee
of Cities Served By Atmos West Texas ( "Cities ") And Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas
Division Regarding the Company's 2013 Statement of Intent to Increase Rates in all
Cities Exercising Original Jurisdiction; Declaring Existing Rates to be Unreasonable;
Adopting Tariffs that Reflect Rate Adjustments Consistent With the Negotiated
Settlement and Finding the Rates to be Set By the Tariffs Attached to the Settlement
Agreement to be Just and Reasonable; Approving a New Rate Review Mechanism;
Requiring the Company to Reimburse Cities' Reasonable Ratemaking Expenses;
Repealing Conflicting Resolutions or Ordinances; Determining that this Ordinance was
Passed in Accordance with the Requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act;
Adopting a Savings Clause; Declaring an Effective Date; and Requiring Delivery of this
Ordinance to the Company and the Cities' Legal Counsel.
The City, along with other similarly situated cities served by Atmos Energy Corp., West
Texas Division, is a member of the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Atmos West
Texas. On October 18, 2013, Atmos West Texas filed with the City a Statement of
Intent to increase natural gas rates in all cities exercising original jurisdiction in its West
Texas Division. The effective date was suspended by City resolution and extended
further by the Company to facilitate settlement discussions.
The Atmos West Texas Statement of Intent filing sought approximately $12 million in
increased revenues. The Company also proposed a revised Rate Review Mechanism
which will save us money in the long run.
The City worked with the Steering Committee to analyze the schedules and evidence
offered by Atmos West Texas to support its request to increase rates. The Ordinance
and attached Settlement tariffs are the result of negotiation between the Steering
Committee and the Company to resolve issues raised by the Steering Committee during
the review and evaluation of Atmos West Texas' filing. The Ordinance and Settlement
tariffs approve rates that will increase the Company's revenues by $8.3 million on a
system -wide basis, effective for bills rendered on or after April 1, 2014. The monthly bill
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impact for the average residential customer will be a $0.77 increase (about a 3.9%
increase in the total bill).
The amount of the $8.3 million system -wide increase to be borne by West Texas Cities
is $2,566,678. The amount of the $8.3 million system wide increase to be borne by the
Amarillo group is $2,850,005 and the amount to be borne by Lubbock is $2,749,853.
The Steering Committee's Executive Committee and its designated legal counsel and
consultants recommend that all Cities adopt the Ordinance approving the Settlement
Agreement and implementing the rate change. This is the second reading of this
Ordinance and staff feels it is positive for our cities.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Starnes moved to adopt Ordinance No. 14 -3608 on second reading.
The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Blackerby and carried by a vote of
seven "for" the motion and Councilmember V. O. Ortega abstaining due to a conflict of
interest.
Mr. Ingham presented for consideration the Agreement for Industrial Growth and
Development Services between the City of Plainview and the Plainview -Hale County
Industrial Foundation, Inc. This is the City's contract with the Plainview -Hale County
Industrial Foundation, Inc. for economic development services. It includes the basic
amount of $39,000 which is going into general operation of the Industrial Foundation
and this year we have added a section which addresses the additional $72,500 that the
City has committed to the Industrial Foundation for increased marketing and incentives
to promote economic development in our community. It has also increased the
reporting from the Industrial Foundation from once a year to quarterly to keep the
Council more informed of how their efforts are progressing. These funds are included
in the City's budget for 2013 -2014, which will coincide with this agreement.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Ortega moved to approve the Agreement for Industrial Growth and
Development Services between the City of Plainview and the Plainview -Hale County
Industrial Foundation. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner.
Councilmember Hastey asked Mr. Carter to give an example of how funds are going to
be used. Mr. Carter said they are an executive run committee. $50,000 would be
placed in incentive fund and reminder will be used for marketing such as increased
advertising at trade shows, increase exposure in periodicals. The incentive fund is
being set up and hoping to get matrix ready soon.
Councilmember Blackerby stated she felt there needed to be some type of
accountability.
Councilmember Lionel Garcia stated that we should sit down with County to see how
we can both inject money into the Foundation. He said it is not a Plainview issue, but
rather a regional and county issue.
Mr. Carter stated they are funded three ways, $45,000 county, $39,000 city and
$65,000 through corporate partners.
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Councilmember Ortega suggested to possibly consider having a joint city and county
meeting during the summer with the agenda item being economic growth.
Mayor Dunlap asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried with a vote of seven
"for" the motion and Councilmember Lionel Garcia voting "against" the motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner 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]. City Manager, Health Authority, and
Appointments to the following boards and commission: Airport Board, Parks Advisory
Commission, & Library Board. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember
Lionel Garcia and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Dunlap recessed the meeting at 8:18 p.m.
Mayor Dunlap called the meeting back in open session at 8:55 p.m.
He announced there would be no action taken regarding City Manager.
Councilmember Starnes moved to appoint the following:
1) Doug Buie as the City representative to the Airport Board with said term to expire
on January 1, 2018;
2) reappoint Ruby Riggins, Joani Chapman, Gabriel Rodriguez to the Parks
Advisory Commission with said terms to expire on January 1, 2018; and
3) reappoint Kenna Hatch to the Library Board with said term to expire on
December 31, 2017.
The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember David Garcia. There was no public
comment. Mayor asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried by unanimous
vote.
There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
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