The governing body of the City of Littlefield, Texas, met on Tuesday, August 22nd, at the City Council Chambers, 525 Phelps Avenue, for the purpose of considering all matters and related incidents to the City of Littlefield.
Mayor Eric Turpen called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and the Invocation was led by Mayor Pro Tempore Kenny Rucker. Mayor Turpen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
No one requested to comment during the public comment portion of the meeting and there were no new employees to introduce.
Item six on the agenda was to consider and approve the minutes from the July 25th and August 8th Meetings.
Council Member Michael Rangel made the motion to approve the minutes of the last two meetings and it was seconded by Council Member Buddy Holmes. The motion passed unanimously.
The next order of business was to consider and approve monthly departmental reports: Police Dept.; Fire Dept.; EMS; Code Enforcement; Animal Control; Landfill; Water/Wastewater; Streets and Parks; Municipal Court; Aquatic Center; Monthly Financial Reports; Sales Tax Collection; Property Tax Collection reports; LEDC A and B minutes, if Boards met.
Council Member Rangel made the motion to approve the monthly reports and it was seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker. The motion passed unanimously.
Item eight on the agenda was to consider and approve July Expenses.
Council Member Holmes made the motion to approve the expenses and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
The next order of business was to consider and approve June and July All-Ways Towing expenses.
Council Member Rangel made the motion to approve June and July All-Ways Towing expenses and it was seconded by Council Member Eric Saenz. The motion passed with four ayes and one abstained.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve the appointment and reappointment of LEDC A Directors.
Council Member Rangel made the motion to reappointment Graham Henley and it was seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 11 on the agenda was to consider and approve appointment and reappointment of 2023 LEDC B Directors.
Mayor Turpen made the motion to reappoint Lottie Spencer, Mayor Eric Turpen, Keith Logan, Lance Parker and Retha Williams and it was seconded by Council Member Holmes. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 12 on the agenda was to consider and approve appointment of Parks Committee Members.
Mayor Eric Turpen made the motion to reappoint Ronnie Rogers, Lance Broadhurst, Shawn Pickrell, Keith Logan and Lance Parker. They have all agreed to serve. The motion was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
The next order of business was to consider and approve a RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF LITTLEFIELD, TEXAS (“CITY”) DENYING SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY’S PROPOSED RATE INCREASE REQUEST IN CONNECTION WITH ITS STATEMENT OF INTENT SUBMITTED ON ABOUT FEBRUARY 8, 2023; REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT OF REASONABLE LEGAL AND CONSULTANT EXPENSES; FINDING THATTHE MEETING COMPLIES WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker made the motion to approve the resolution denying Southwestern Public Service proposed rate increase request and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 14 on the agenda was to consider and approve A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LITTLEFIELD, TEXAS,APPROVINGANEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF CITIES SERVED BY ATMOS WEST TEXAS (“CITIES”) AND ATMOS ENERGY CORP., WEST TEXAS DIVISION REGARDING THE COMPANY’S 2023 RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILING; DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE; ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT; FINDING THE RATES TO BE SET BY THE ATTACHED SETTLEMENTTARIFFS TO BE JUSTAND REASONABLE AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST; APPROVINGANATTACHMENT ESTABLISHINGABENCHMARK FOR PENSIONS AND RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS; 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 AN0EFFECTIVEDATE; AND REQUIRING DELIVERYOF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANYANDTHE CITIES’LEGAL COUNSEL.
Mayor Turpen made the motion to approve the resolution for a negotiated settlement and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve Engineer for Development of Application for EDA Grant applications.
City Manager Mitch Grant presented the scoring results for the engineers. Mayor Pro Tempore Kenny Rucker made a motion to aprove the EDA Grant Application scoring results as presented by City Manager Grant and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 16 on the agenda was to consider and approve AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LITTLEFIELD, TEXAS, ADOPTING AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINALBUDGETOFTHECITY OF LITTLEFIELD, TEXAS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, FUNDING ACCOUNTS IN BUDGET DUETOUNFORESEENSITUATIONS; CONTAINING FINDINGS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.
Mayor Turpen made the motion to approve the ordinance amending the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 17 was a Public Hearing Regarding Approving the Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
“This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $94,027 and of that amount $10,940 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.”
Mayor Turpen closed the regular session and opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. No one requested to speak. Mayor Turpen closed the public hearing and reopened the regular session at 6:29 p.m.
The next order of business was to consider and approve AN ORDINANCE APPROVINGTHEBUDGET AND 5-YEAR CAPITAL IMtaxes PROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2023AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, PROJECT, ACCOUNT, ANDDEBTANDDECLARINGAN EMERGENCY.
Mayor Eric Turpen made a motion to add additional 3-percent for payroll of Certified Peace Officers which would add approximately $19,000 to the budget. Council Member Holmes seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Rangel made the motion to approve the presented budget with the above changes and it was seconded by Council Member Holmes. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 19 on the agenda was to consider and approve Plans to Increase Tax Revenue, Propose a Rate, and Set Hearing and Adoption for September 26, 2023, 6 p.m. as prescribed by Tax Code §26.06, Record vote.
City Manager Grant presented the same tax rate which would raise the amount of taxes paid. Mayor Eric Turpen made the motion to propose the tax rate of $0.6255 consisting of Maintenance and Operations $0.5514 and Interest and Sinking $0.0741 and set hearing and adoption on September 26, 2023 meeting. Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker made the second motion. Record vote: Eric Turpen – in favor; Michael Rangel – in favor; Kenny Rucker – in favor; Eric Saenz – in favor; Buddy Holmes – in favor.
Item 20 on the agenda was Executive Session: Consultation with Attorney (Hotel Occupancy Tax, TCEQ, Utility Rate Attorney Fees) Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney) Mayor Turpen closed the regular session and opened the executive session at 6:49 p.m. and the Council returned to regular session at 7:33 p.m. No action was taken.
The next item on the agenda was to Consider and Approve any Action Regarding Consultation with Attorney.
Mayor Turpen made the motion to pay the agreed amount to TCEQ on Docket #20221363MWD-E and it was seconded by Council Member Rangel. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 22 on the agenda was Executive Session: Regarding Annual City Manager Evaluation. TGC 551.074 (Personnel Matters) Mayor Turpen closed the regular session and opened the executive session at 7:34 p.m. Mayor Turpen closed the executive session and reopened the regular session at 8:15 p.m. No action was taken.
The next item on the agenda was to Consider Action Regarding Annual City Manager Evaluation.
Mayor Turpen made the motion to include City Manager Mitch Grant in regular two-percent cost of living increase and it was seconded by Council Member Holmes. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Turpen adjourned the meeting at 8:18 p.m.