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The Plainview City Council met on June 10, 2008 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 3:30 p.m. on June 6, 2008. Mayor John C. Anderson
presided. Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-District 1, Cathy Waggoner-
District 2, John N. Bertsch-District 4, Ron Trusler-District 5, Wendell Dunlap-District 6
and Roland Nash-District 7. Councilmember Belinda Pena-District 3 was absent.
Staff members present were: Greg Ingham-City Manager, John Castro-Director of
Community Services, Will Mull-Police Chief, Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service, Eric
Turner-Main Street Coordinator and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary.
News Media Representative: Tommy Young-Plainview Dailv Herald
Mayor John C. Anderson delivered the invocation.
Mayor John C. Anderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor John C. Anderson recognized Kelvin Tipton, Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem.
Councilmember Dunlap moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved
on the consent calendar included approval of the minutes of May 27, 2008 and June
5, 2008; granting of excused absence to Belinda Pena; and the reappointment of
Phyllis Wall to the Parks Advisory Board with said term to expire on January 1, 2012.
Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration Resolution R08-187, a
Resolution by the City of Plainview, Texas ("City") Approving Southwestern Public
Service Company's ("SPS") Proposed Tariff Sheets Related To Certain Interruptible-
Service Tariffs Filed on or About May 13, 2008; Expressly Declining to Approve SPS'
Methodology For Calculating Certain Credits and Avoided Costs; Expressly Reserving
to the City the Right to Review in SPS' Next General Rate Case the Methodology
Underlying Certain Credits and Avoided Costs; Requiring the Reimbursement of
Expenses Associated with the Review of SPS' Tariffs; Determining that the Meeting at
which this Resolution was Passed Complied with the Texas Open Meetings Act; Making
Such Other Findings and Provisions Related to the Subject; and Declaring an Effective
Date. He stated on or about May 13, 2008, Southwestern Public Service Company
(Xcel Energy) filed an application to (1) amend its tariff for service under its "Interruptible
Credit Option;" (2) approve a new tariff, the "Commercial and Industrial Controlled Air
Conditioning Rider;" (3) approve a new tariff, the "Residential Controlled Air
Conditioning Rider;" and (4) approval of the methodology it used to calculate the credits
available under its proposed tariffs. Each of these tariffs is an optional service and no
customer is required to subscribe to the service. Each tariff offers the customer a credit
for allowing SPS the opportunity to interrupt the subscribing customer's service. SPS
will pay the credit even if it does not interrupt the subscribing customer's service.
While this is basically good in theory - a broader range of customers can save a little
money if they are willing to have their power interrupted -there was one element of the
filing that was disconcerting to the Steering Committee for the Alliance of Xcel
Municipalities (AXM). That was the fact that Xcel asked the cities to approve the
City Council Minutes June 10, 2008 Page 1 of 3
2~4 methodology SPS used to calculate the credits that will be available under the proposed
tariffs, but they did not provide us with any detailed analysis of what that methodology
was, what the overall revenue impact will be, how it would affect customers who chose
not to sign up for the interruptible service, and they said they would determine what the
actual numbers were in the next rate case BUT they wanted our cities to approve the
methodology now. That would in essence remove our right to consider that process in
the upcoming rate case.
Given the fact that we are literally receiving information on the upcoming rate case now,
the AXM Steering Committee did not feel it was reasonable or prudent to approve the
methodology without a full understanding of the overall impacts of the new program.
The Steering Committee recommends the approval of the accompanying Resolution.
This Resolution approves SPS/Xcel's proposed Interruptible Tariff; Residential
Controlled Air Conditioning Tariff; and Commercial and Industrial Controlled Air
Conditioning Tariffs; BUT this Resolution expressly declines to approve the
methodology used by SPS to calculate the credits and it expressly reserves our cities
rights to review the methodology and calculations of avoided costs in the upcoming rate
case.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Truster moved to approve Resolution R08-187. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Nash.
The Council discussed the complexity of the filings and how it is difficult for our citizens
to understand what is going on.
Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration the Agreement for S.A.F.E.
Program between the City of Plainview and the YMCA. The YMCA operates this youth
program for youth from ages 5 to 14. The City Council has committed $20,000 for this
program. 171 youths participated last year. The cost to run the program last year was
$39,000.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Nash moved approval of the Agreement for S.A.F.E. program between
the YMCA and the City of Plainview. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember
Nash and carried by unanimous vote.
Mr. Ingham presented for consideration the Lease Agreement between City of
Plainview and Plainview YMCA. This is the for the 16th Street Park swimming pool. The
YMCA operates the pool and has trained staff. The City puts $15,000 into the operation.
The YMCA had a loss of $3,500 last year and the City will probably have to increase its
funding amount next year. He stated the YMCA does a good job with the operation of the
pool.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
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Councilmember Dunlap moved approval of the Lease Agreement between the City of
Plainview and the Plainview YMCA. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember
Trusler.
Councilmember Bertsch asked if the $15,000 was an advisory fee. Mr. Ingham stated
they pay the costs for chemicals and ongoing material costs and the City assists them with
part of the maintenance cost.
Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Ingham presented for consideration the Transportation Agreement with the County.
He stated this has been under discussion for several months. The City makes
emergency committal/detainment and determines the need to transport. The County
Judge commits through a court ordered process. When the City transports a patient it
requires two officers to transport. A lot of the times these officer that transport are
officers who have just gotten off shift.
Our legal counsel has drafted this agreement and provides that the County will oversee
the program and have a vehicle available to provide the transport. They will retain
someone on a part-time basis. This will take the load off of the Police Department and
the Sheriffs Department. On some occasions the City might still have to do the
transports. It is estimated the City's cost will be from $10,000 to $20,000. LEAF has
committed up to $10,000 to assist with this.
Mr. Ingham thanked Councilmember Trusler and the County for their work on this. This
Agreement is for a one year term and either party can terminate.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Trusler stated he would abstain from voting on the matter because of
his involvement with Central Plains MHMR and LEAF.
Councilmember Bertsch moved approval of the Transportation Agreement with the
Council. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Waggoner.
Councilmember Bertsch asked if the employee would be a County employee. He was
advised this person would be on call 24 hours a day and would be a part time employee
of the County, probably a retired law enforcement officer or some reserve officers.
Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried with a vote of 6
"for" the motion and one abstention by Councilmember Trusler.
There being no further business, Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
.~Cc,u.d~
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
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