Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 1111 min252 The Plainview City Council met on November 11, 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 November 7, 2008. Mayor John C. Anderson presided. Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-District 1, Cathy Waggoner- District 2, Belinda Pena-District 3, John N. Bertsch-District 4, Ron Trusler-District 5, and Roland Nash-District 7. Councilmember Wendell Dunlap-District 6 was absent. Staff members present were: Greg Ingham-City Manager, Mike Gilliland-Director of Public Works, Leslie Pearce-City Attorney, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Will Mull-Police Chief, Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News Media Representative: Tommy Young-Plainview Daily Herald Guests Present were: Dee Blevins, Mike Fox, G. K. Reddy, and Hari Krisne Councilmember Cathy Waggoner delivered the invocation and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Tipton 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 October 14, 2008 and November 6, 2008; and the granting of an excused absence to Councilmember Wendell Dunlap. Mike Fox, President of the Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation and David Evans, Executive Director presented the Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation Annual Report. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration to authorize the City of Plainview to apply for the GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program. He stated the Council recently heard the presentation on the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program. After that presentation, staff met with Dee Blevins of the Chamber of Commerce to review the application process to determine what data would need to be generated, what planning would need to be done, and who had the capacity and responsibility for what areas. It was decided Eric Turner would be the primary contact during the development of the application, but after that the Chamber of Commerce would be the most logical organization to be designated by the Council as the long term sponsor for this program. The Sponsor should be a recognizable entity within the community, have a physical location with regular office hours, have the capacity and resources to manage the community's retirement recruitment efforts; and it will serve as the primary contact for disseminating information to potential retirees through the Certified Retirement Community program. He stated if the Council wants us to proceed with this program we ask that you authorize the City to apply for the Certified Retirement Community Program designation. The cost of the program will be based on our population multiplied by $0.25 which will come to about $5,600. The fee is not due until the application is submitted. The City Council Minutes November 11, 2008 Page 1 of 3 Council will need to appoint a Community Retirement Board/Panel which will represent 253 various organizations in the community. This group will help develop along-term plan to help maintain and improve the community's desirability as a destination for retirees. We will be talking with the Texas Department of Agriculture representatives to get additional information on this Board and will bring information to the Council at a later date regarding the actual appointments. Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. Dee Blevins of 2705 Holiday stated he is excited about the program and hopes this is looked at favorably. Nancy Cordero of the Texas Department of Agriculture stated she appreciated the Council's consideration of the program. Councilmember Truster moved to authorize the City of Plainview to apply for the GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Nash. Councilmember Bertsch stated he had received some opposition to the program. He said they failed to realize the draw Plainview has and stated he is a strong supporter of this program. Councilmember Pena asked for the website for the program. Ms. Cordero advised that website is www.retireinTexas.org. Mayor concurred with Councilmember Bertsch and Pena. He asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Ingham presented for consideration on second reading Ordinance No. 08-3509, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas, ("City") Approving a Negotiated Resolution Between the Atmos West Texas Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas Division ("Atmos West Texas" Or "The Company") Regarding the Company's Rate Review Mechanism Filing 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 Attached Tariffs to be Just and Reasonable; Approving Atmos' Proof of Revenues; Adopting a Savings Clause; Determining that this Ordinance was Passed in Accordance with the Requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act; Declaring an Effective Date; and Requiring Delivery of this Ordinance to the Company and Legal Counsel. At the last rate case, it was agreed to try a Rate Review Mechanism. The three year process was created by Atmos and the Steering Committee to eliminate the piecemeal ratemaking GRIP process in favor of an expedited rate review controlled by cities. The Company's filing is the first filing pursuant to the agreed Rate Review Mechanism process. It has taken six months longer than anticipated. Atmos was asking for $9.5 million but they have agreed to $3.9 million. The negotiated result reduces Atmos' requested rate increase by more than half - the proposed residential increase was $4.10 per month. The monthly bill impact for an average residential customer is $1.98. The agreement between the cities and Atmos West Texas regarding the Rate Review Mechanism filing calls for an annual filing for a period of three years. The next filing will be in March. Each entity can back out if they feel it is not working. The executive committee recommends approval. City Council Minutes November 11, 2008 Page 2 of 3 254 Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Bertsch moved to approve Ordinance No. 08-3509 on second reading. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler. Councilmember Bertsch clarified that we are discussing about what it costs Atmos to manage its services and not the costs of gas. Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Anderson moved to go into closed meeting to consult with attorney on pending or contemplated litigation or settlement of same in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code, Section 551.071. - Police Department. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Anderson recessed the meeting at 7:37 p.m. Mayor Anderson called the meeting back in open session at 8:33 p.m. He announced no action would be taken. There being no further business, Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes November 11, 2008 Page 3 of 3