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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-2015 Council minutesThe Plainview City Council met on March 24, 2015 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 3:20 p.m. on March 20, 2015. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes -District 1, Larry Williams -District 2, Norma Juarez -District 3, Teressa King -District 4 and Susan Blackerby-District 5. Councilmembers Lionel Garcia -District 6 and Eric Hastey-District 7 were absent. Staff members present were: Jeffrey Snyder -City Manager, Andrew Freeman -Assistant City Manager, Leslie Spear Schmidt -City Attorney, Mike Gilliland -Director of Public Works, Sarianne Beversdorf-Director of Finance, Ken Coughlin -Police Chief, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Isauro Gutierrez -Information Technology Specialist, Kelly Carpenter - Community Development Manager, Tim Crosswhite-Water Reclamation Superintendent and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News Media Present: Homer Marquez -Plainview Herald Guests Present: Brian Stephens, Beverly McCaskill and Debbie McPherson Councilmember Larry Williams delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Councilmember Williams moved to approve the consent calendar. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Juarez and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved on the consent calendar included the granting of excused absences to Councilmembers Lionel Garcia and Eric Hastey; approval of the minutes of March 5, 2015 and March 10, 2015; and approval of the Financial Reports. Mayor Dunlap called on George Meriwether with Davis, Kinard & Co. PC to present the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. He said staff is doing a good job and the City records are good. We had a few audit adjustments, but they were minor. The City has retained their AA- rating. 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 Williams and carried by unanimous vote. Tim Crosswhite, Water Reclamation Superintendent presented for consideration and to take necessary action regarding the Emergency Procurement of Wastewater Treatment Plant Screening System necessary to protect the public health and safety of residents. Two bar screens put installed in 2001 have failed beyond reasonable repair. He introduced Brian Stephens with Parkhill, Smith & Cooper. Mr. Stephens presented some background information on the wastewater treatment plant. He presented two options for the procurement of the screens. The traditional design bid build would take approximately 12 months to complete. He recommended the emergency procurement of material, which should allow us to get new screens in place by August 11th Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Williams moved to accept recommendation for the emergency procurement of wastewater treatment plant screening system necessary to protect the City Council Minutes March 24, 2015 Page 1 of 3 419 420 public health and safety of residents. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem King and carried by unanimous vote. Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager presented for consideration on first reading, Ordinance No. 15-3619, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas, Approving a Negotiated Resolution Between the Atmos West Texas Cities Steering Committee ("WTX Cities") And Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas Division Regarding the Company's 2014 Rate Review Mechanism Filing; Declaring Existing Rates to be Unreasonable; Adopting Tariffs that Reflect Rate Adjustments Consistent with the Negotiated Settlement; Finding the Rates to be set by the Attached Tariffs to be Just and Reasonable and in the Public Interest; Requiring the Company to Reimburse Cities' Reasonable Ratemaking Expenses; 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 WTX Cities' Legal Counsel. The City is a member of the West Texas Cities Steering Committee. On December 1, 2015, Atmos West Texas filed with the City a Rate Review Mechanism to reflect a system- wide cost of service increase in the amount of $11.8 million, of which $5 million was attributed to the West Texas Cities Rate Division. The WTX Cities along with legal staff analyzed the schedules and evidence offered by Atmos West Texas to support its request to increase rate. The rate goes into effect March 15, 2015. The monthly customer charge will not change, but will remain at $15.50. The consumption charge will change. The monthly bill impact for the average residential customer will be an increase of $2.02. Staff is recommending approval. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Starnes moved to adopt Ordinance No. 15-3619 on first reading. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem King and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Pro Tem King 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 following boards and commissions: Board of Adjustment and Airport Board. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Blackerby and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Dunlap recessed the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Mayor Dunlap called the meeting back in open session at 8:24 p.m. Councilmember Starnes moved to appoint Ray Lee to the Airport Board to complete the unexpired term, with said term to expire on January 1, 2018; and To reappoint David McDonald to the Airport Board with said term to expire on January 1, 2019; and To appoint David Murphree to the Board of Adjustment with said term to expire on January 1, 2017. City Council Minutes March 24, 2015 Page 2 of 3 The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem King and carried by unanimous vote. There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary 44, City Council Minutes March 24, 2015 Page 3 of 3 421