Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, May 14, 2013: 8 items; Discuss the 2013 Cost of Service Adjustment filing from Texas Gas Service Company within
0 consent items, 8 regular items, 1 executive-session topic; 7 recorded votes, all unanimous. Written from the minutes.
Discuss the 2013 Cost of Service Adjustment filing from Texas Gas Service Company within the City of Weatherford. The Council recessed for ten minutes. The Council resumed their meeting at 5:10 with Mayor Hooks noting that Ms. McTaggart from Texas Gas Services and Councilmember Hamilton had joined the meeting. Ms. McTaggart provided additional details as requested by the Council. She provided numbers for the plant and expenses for the last eight years, as well as the increases for each of those eight years. She noted the gradual increase each year, per the COSA (Cost of Service Adjustment) as opposed to larger increases every few years. The average increase was 1.6 percent per year over the eight years. Approximately $2 million was invested annually in plant and that number has accelerated to approximately $4 to $5 million recently, which is the reason for the requested increase. Weatherford has cast iron and bare steel pipes which the company is required to replace. Ms. McTaggart discussed the volumetric rate. Average monthly customer bills are lower at approximately $41 after the proposed increase versus approximately $44 in 2005, and $57 in 2008. Just as with electric, the cost of gas is cheaper, so customer bills are cheaper now than they were in 2008. Ms. McTaggart also discussed "declining customer usage" meaning that the average customer is consuming less each year [...]
Proclaim May 2013 as Lupus Awareness Month. Mayor Hooks issued the proclamation to Tracy Lee. Ms. Lee spoke about the local walk which started in 2011 and has grown from 200 to 500 participants. Proclaim June 7, 2013 as Weatherford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Day. Mayor Hooks issued the proclamation to members of the Weatherford Chapter. The Weatherford Chapter is one of the oldest continuous chapters in the State of Texas. They handed out over 1,700 constitutions and bookmarks this year; they appreciate the recognition.
Consider and/or act upon approval to allow placement of a statue of Larry Hagman on the grounds of Heritage Park. This item was withdrawn by representatives of the Committee to Memorialize Larry Hagman. CC 051413 Page 3 of 6 Consider and/or act upon approval of the relocation of the Parker County Veterans Memorial. Mr. Hamilton asked the Mayor to return to the previous item for a moment. This item, placing a Larry Hagman statue, has not been through the Park Board. The City has no existing policy. This process would help the City begin to establish a policy. Staff is looking at the potential for a collective location where notable citizens could be recognized. Danielle Felts, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events, presented the Veterans Memorial item to the Council. In May 2011, Council adopted Resolution R2011-13 officially dedicating a 0.15 acre tract of land at the corner of Eureka Street and Santa Fe as the future home of the Parker County Veterans Memorial Park. The Resolution made the land available to the Parker County American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for the purpose of constructing the Memorial. The American Legion and the VFW have since joined forces with the local Gold Star Mothers to develop a cohesive memorial, and are requesting to abandon the site previously dedicated and relocate the Memorial within Soldier Spring Park. On April [...]
Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance 618-3013-12 imposing a lien upon certain real property in the City for delinquent bills for utility services to that property and directing the City Secretary to provide notice of the lien by recording a certified copy of Ordinance 618- 2013-12 in the real property records of Parker County, Texas. Chief Financial Officer Janina Jewell presented this item. The City has provided utility service to property commonly addressed as 1219 Holland Lake Drive. Utility services have been provided under three customer/account numbers. To date, the City is owed $82,109.63 and the past due amount is $64,936.80. Section 552.0025 of the Texas Local Government Code authorizes the imposition by a municipality of a lien against an owner's property for delinquent bills for municipal utility service to the property. If imposed, the amount would be $64,936.80 instead of $69,936.08 as a payment was made earlier today. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 618-2013-12. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Consider and/or act upon the 2013 Cost of Service Adjustment filing from Texas Gas Service Company within the City of Weatherford. Texas Gas Services Company submitted its 2013 filing pursuant to the COSA clause on March 28, 2013. Requests for additional information and answers to questions have been received since the previous meeting and during tonight’s work session. The item is open for action. Council can approve, reject, or leave it alone and it will automatically go into effect in July. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to table this item. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider a reappointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to reappoint Carole Peterson to her first full term ending March 2015. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Appointment(s) to the Weatherford Housing Authority. On the motion of Dennis Hooks, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Debbie Browder and Jim Tilger to the Weatherford Housing Authority. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Future agenda items: Councilwoman Wilder asked for a work session on organizational structure and efficiencies before budget sessions. Councilman Swancy asked to include a discussion of the Parks Department, relating to Heritage Park and staffing levels.
Weatherford Economic Development Authority FY2013 2nd Quarter Report. Dennis Clayton, Executive Director of Weatherford Economic Development Authority, presented this item. No action was required or taken on this item.
Action on executive session items: CC 051413 Page 5 of 6 To take action, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, VTCS, (Open Meetings Law): In accordance with the authority contained in Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney - a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the provisions of Chapter 551 - Municipal regulation of oil and gas w
Executive session topics, as posted: accordance with the authority contained in Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney - a.
Compiled from the city secretary's minutes by the Ledger's extractor, in the minutes' own wording, item by item; the Ledger adds no characterization. Read the minutes for the full record.
Sources: City of Weatherford: council minutes, May 14, 2013 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)