Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, June 25, 2013: 8 items; Discuss the 2013 Cost of Service Adjustment filing from Texas Gas Service Company within
0 consent items, 8 regular items, 1 public hearing; 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. Ms. Wilder presented information to the Council regarding this item. She talked about the Texas Gas Services Rate of Return, debt, and equity. She mentioned using the DuPont Analysis to identify the drivers of Return on Equity (ROE). The ROE is 10.85 percent. Texas Gas Services was unwilling to negotiate down from 10.85 to 10.81 percent. Since the Texas Railroad Commission upheld two rate cases recently, Texas Gas is unwilling to negotiate or compromise their requested rate. Ms. Wilder spoke about the City's options. Texas Gas Services would have the right to a rate case if the City approved anything less than what they requested. Eventually, if the rate case was in favor of Texas Gas Services, then the expenses of the rate case would be borne by the rate payers. City Attorney Cathy Zellers also spoke to the Council. Ms. Zellers stated that she had consulted with outside counsel on this matter. If the City denies the request, then the ball is in Texas Gas' court. If they choose to file an appeal there is nothing the City can do. The multiple steps, time, and cost of a rate case are said to be considerable. Council discussed the effects on the average user by a rate increase between $1.59 and $1.62 per month. The requested base increase to the bill for Texas Gas' [...]
Proclaim Saturday, June 29, 2013 as South Weatherford Ex-Students Day. Glenn Smart and Fred Garvin accepted the proclamation and gave details about the reunion.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Ordinance 621-2013-15 for a Zoning Change from R1 Residential to C1 Commercial, for property located along the 1500 block of FARM ROAD 920, more generally described as a portion of a 19.887 acre tract in the John C. Chapman Survey, Abstract 249, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. Project ZCH2013-0004. THE HEARING WAS CONTINUED AND THE ITEM WAS TABLED ON JUNE 11, 2013. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 6:37 p.m. Jerry Waller was called to speak; he stated that he wanted to hear the outcome. As there were no other speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the Public Hearing. On the motion of Dennis Hooks, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to remove this item from the table. Motion carried 4 - 0.
On the motion of Dennis Hooks, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to allow the applicant to withdraw his request. Motion carried 4 - 0.
Consider and/or act upon acceptance of an Interlocal Agreement for Fire Apparatus Maintenance and Repair Services. City Manager Jerry Blaisdell requested that the Council take no action on this item at this time. Chief Rust is out of town and this request is tied to the budget. A couple items remain to be cleared through CC 062513 Page 3 of 5 our budget process. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to take no action on this item. Motion carried 4 - 0.
Receive a draft copy of proposed amendments to City Code of Ordinances, Title II, Commissions and Boards. City Secretary Malinda Nowell presented this item to the Council. With forthcoming changes to the Weatherford Economic Development Authority, Staff has reviewed Title II of the Code of Ordinances. The Weatherford Economic Development Board has been included, as well as chapters for Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, and Historic Preservation Commission, which were previously recorded in other titles. Additional cleanup measures have been made throughout Title II and are noted in the redline copy that was provided in the agenda documents. Mrs. Nowell noted one additional change regarding the Weatherford Economic Development Board members. In order to keep the board organized as closely as possible to the manner in which the current board functions, it is necessary that we add a statement that the residency requirements found in section 2-1-2 (c) do not apply to the Weatherford Economic Development Board. Staff will bring the final draft of these amendments for Council’s consideration and approval at the July 9 meeting. No action was required or taken on this item. Consider and/or act upon the 2013 Cost of Service Adjustment filing from Texas Gas Service Company within the City of Weatherford. THIS ITEM WAS TABLED ON MAY 14, 2013. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by [...]
Sidney Kirk, Assistant Finance Director, advised Council of their three options tonight: they can do nothing or accept the request and the rate increase will take effect on July 1, or they can deny the request and it will go to the Texas Railroad Commission for a rate case. Ms. Wilder stated: “This Council, over the past many weeks, has exercised tremendous diligence in conducting a detailed review and analysis of the requested rate increase by Texas Gas Service. That diligence has included a thorough review of the stated basis and reasons for the requested increase; a review of underlying data regarding the components of the request; and, specifically, data regarding the “equity component” of this request. We have been in regular communications with Texas Gas Service representatives negotiating and urging every possible reduction or concession that we believe was justified for the Weatherford ratepayers after that review. At the same time, we have kept ourselves informed of the results of Texas Gas Services’ recent appeals of denials of its rate request by other cities and entities in our area. All of these measures have been undertaken to fulfill our charge, as Council members, to protect the interests of the rate paying citizens in the City of Weatherford. And it’s precisely the interest of those rate paying citizens that, in the balance, I have determined can be best [...]
Monthly management report including financials for May 2013. Chad Janicek, Director of Office of Management and Budget, presented this report. Mr. Janicek reported one correction to the Solid Waste Fund Summary that was distributed with the agenda documents. The revenue year-to-date was actually $1.7 million, not $2.7 million. Mr. Janicek announced a budget sneak peak for the next meeting. No action was required or taken.
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, June 25, 2013 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)