HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-2016 Council Minutes20
The Plainview City Council met on March 22, 2016 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 2:55 p.m. on March 18, 2016. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided.
Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes -District 1, Larry Williams -District 2,
Norma Juarez -District 3, Teressa King -District 4, Susan Blackerby-District 5 and Lionel
Garcia -District 6. Councilmember Eric Hastey-District 7 was absent.
Staff members present were: Jeffrey Snyder -City Manager, Andrew Freeman -Assistant
City Manager, Tim Crosswhite-Director of Public Works, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief,
Sarianne Beversdorf-Director of Finance, Isauro Gutierrez -Information Technology
Manager and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary.
News Media Present: Homer Marquez -Plainview Herald
Guests Present: Virginio Ortega, Mike Fox, Haley Jackson and Tyson Pendergrass
Mayor Wendell Dunlap 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 an excused absence to Councilmember
Eric Hastey; approval of the minutes of March 3, 2016 and March 8, 2016; and approval
of the financial reports.
George Meriwether with Davis, Kinard & Co., P.C. introduced Cara Hilbrich, CPA the
Manager on the audit. Ms. Hilbrich stated the city received a clean opinion with a
significant deficiency regarding a meter reading error.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Starnes moved to approve and accept the audit report. The motion was
duly seconded by Councilmember Blackerby and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Dunlap introduced Ordinance No. 16-3632 on second reading, an Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Plainview Continuing Chapter 8, Article 8.05, Juvenile
Curfew of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Plainview, Texas Defining Terms;
Providing Curfew Hours for Juveniles; Offenses and Defenses for Juveniles; Penalty for
Violation of the Curfew Ordinance By Juveniles, Their Parents Or Guardians, And
Owners, Operators And Employees Of Business Establishments Of A Fine Not To
Exceed $500; Repealer; Severability Clause; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause;
Effective Date; And Providing For Publication And Enforcement Of Such Ordinance.
Since this was the second of two readings, the Council chose to forego staff briefing and
asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Mayor Pro Tem King moved
to approve on second reading Ordinance No. 16-3632. The motion was duly seconded
by Councilmember Garcia and carried by unanimous vote.
Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager introduced Resolution R16-357, a Resolution 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 2015 Rate Review Mechanism Filing;
Declaring Existing Rates to be Unreasonable; Adopting Tariffs That Reflect Rate
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March 22, 2016 Page 1 of 2
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
Resolution 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 Resolution to the Company and the WTX Cities' Legal Counsel.
The City is a member of the West Texas Cities Steering Committee with member cities
from Midland Odessa to north of Amarillo. They have joined together to facilitate the
review of and response to natural gas issues affecting rates charged in the Atmos West
Texas service area. This is the 2015 rate case. The company filed it annual rate review
mechanism filing under the rate review mechanical tariff, requesting to increase natural
gas base rates system -wide by $9.6 million, and for WTX by $4.2 million.
The WTX cities coordinated its review of Atmos West Texas' RRM filing through attorneys
and consultants used in prior RRM cases, who prepared a report recommending $1.6
million in adjustments. The Company reached an agreement with WTX cities to adjust
its $4.2 million request by $1 million.
A residential customer would see an increase of $1.68, a 3.62% increase. Staff
recommends approval.
Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Williams moved to approve Resolution R16-357. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Starnes 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]. Director of Public Works. The motion was duly seconded by
Councilmember Blackerby and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Dunlap recessed the
meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Mayor Dunlap called the meeting back in open session at 7:48 p.m.
Councilmember Starnes moved to confirm the appointment of Mr. Tim Crosswhite as
Public Works Director for the City of Plainview. The motion was duly seconded by
Councilmember Juarez and carried by unanimous vote.
There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
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March 22, 2016 Page 2 of 2
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