By SAMANTHA PONTIUS (This City Council meeting story was ran in the Sunday, Aug. 28th edition of the Leader-News with a headline that was not representative of what was proposed by the Coucil. It is being re-ran in this edition of the Leader-News with a headline that represents what the Council proposed in that meeting.)
The governing body of the City of Littlefield met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 at the City Council Chambers for a regular meeting.
Members present were Mayor Eric Turpen, District 1 Council Member Eric Saenz, District 2 Council Member Michael Rangel, District 3 Council Member Buddy Holmes and District 4 Council Member and Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker.
Others present were City Manager Mitch Grant, City Secretary Janine Butler, Treasurer Andrew Eisenwine and City Attorney Bryan Guymon.
There was one person in the audience and six staff members also in attendance.
Mayor Eric Turpen called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Kenny Rucker gave the invocation and Mayor Turpen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
No one spoke for public comment.
There were no new city employees present.
Item number six on the agenda was to consider and approve the minutes from the previous meeting, which took place Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 meeting. Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker made a motion to approve the minutes. Council Member Eric Saenz seconded the motion. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve the 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 Board met.
Council Member Buddy Holmes made a motion to approve the monthly reports. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker. The motion carried.
Item number eight on the agenda was to consider and approve the July Expenses. A motion was made by Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker to approve the July expenses. Council Member Eric Saenz seconded the motion. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Application Development and Administrative Services Community Development Program. Council Member Michael Rangel made a motion to approve the Program. Council Member Buddy Holmes seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Item number 10 on the agenda was to consider and approve the Resolution by the City of Littlefield Denying Southwestern Public Service Company’s Proposed Increase in Rates; Authorizing the City’s Continued Participation with Other Cities in the Alliance of Xcel Municipalities (“AXM”) to Direct the Activities of Lawyers and Consultants; Authorizing the Hiring of Attorneys and Consultants; Authorizing the Intervention and Participation in Related Rate Proceedings; and Requiring Reimbursement of Reasonable Legal and Consultant Expenses.
A motion was made by Council Member Michael Rangel to approve the resolution denying Southwestern Public Service proposed rate increase. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Littlefield Approving a Negotiated Settlement Between the Executive Committee of Cities Served by Atmos West Texas (“Cities”) and Atmos Energy Corp., West Texas Division Regarding the Company’s 2022 Rate Review Mechanism Filing; Declaring Existing Rates to be Unreasonable; Adopting Tariffs that Reflect Rate Adjustment Consistent with the Negotiated Settlement; Finding the Rates to be set by the Attached Settlement Tariffs to be Just and Reasonable and in the Public Interest; Approving an Attachment Establishing a Benchmark 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 Meeting Act; Adopting a Savings Clause; Declaring an Effective Date; Date; and Requiring Delivery of This Resolution to the Company and the Cities’ Legal Counsel.
Council Member Michael Rangel made a motion to approve the resolution approving a negotiated settlement with Atmos Energy Corp. Council Member Buddy Homes seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Item number 12 on the agenda was to consider and approve an Ordinance Amending the Littlefield Code of Ordinances Section 13.03.006 and 13.03.007 by Replacing These Sections; Regarding rates to be Changed for the Collection and Disposal of Garbage in the City of Littlefield and Rate of Landfill Use. The ordinance will increase the price of garbage disposal for commercial and residential pick-up by about $3.
A motion was made by Council Member Michael Rangel to approve the ordinance amending the garbage rate increase. Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker seconded the motion. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and approve Submission of Ballot for Elena Quintanilla, a Qualified Person, for Election as Board of Trustee for Region 3 for TML Health Benefits Pool. A motion was made by Mayor Pro tempore Kenny Rucker to approve the submission of Elena Quintanilla. The motion was seconded by Council Member Michael Rangel. The motion carried.
The Council decided to skip ahead to agenda item number 18, which was to move into an Executive Session: Regarding Annual City Manager Evaluation. Mayor Eric Turpen closed the regular session and opened the Executive Session at 6:24 p.m. Mayor Turpen closed the Executive Session and reopened the meeting at regular session at 7:08 p.m. No action was taken.
Item number 19 was to consider action regarding Annual City Manager Evaluation. No action was taken.
The Council moved back to item number 14 on the agenda, which was the Budget Work Session: Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Item number 17 on the agenda was to consider and approve Plans to Propose No-New-Revenue Tax Rate or Approve Plans to Increase Tax Revenue, and Set Public Hearing and Adoption for Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 as prescribed by Tax Code §26.06, take a record vote.
“It’s something we’ll have to address in the future with labor rates going up, at this point, no one’s in favor of increasing taxes,” Mayor Eric Turpen said.
Mayor Turpen made a motion to propose the No-New-Revenue Tax Rate and to hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The motion was seconded by Council Member Michael Rangel. The motion carried.
Item number 15 on the agenda was a Public Hearing Regarding Approving the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. This Budget Will Raise No New Revenue From Property Taxes Than Last Year’s Budget. Mayor Eric Turpen opened the hearing at 7:20 p.m. No one requested to comment. Mayor Turpen closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
Item number 16 on the agenda was to consider and approve an Ordinance Approving the Budget and Five Year Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year Beginning Oct. 1, 2022 and Ending Sept. 30, 2023 and Making Appropriations for Each Department, Project, Account, Debt and Declaring an Emergency.
A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Council Member Michael Rangel. The motion was seconded by Council Member Eric Saenz. The motion was carried.
Mayor Eric Turpen adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m.