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Home My WebLink About07-19-05475 MINUTES #2514 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005, 5:00 P.M. Mayor Pro Tempore Jim Roberts opened the meeting of the City Council. Present were Councilmembers Syd Carter, Kelly Walker and Harry Shawver. Mayor Holmes was absent and excused. Also in attendance were City Manager Bob Livingston, City Attorney Rob Dillard and City Secretary Nina Wilson. AWARDS & RECOGNITION DEPARTMENT PIN: Utility Department Employee Antonio Reyes was unable to attend to receive his 30-year pin. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING WATER QUALITY: There were no comments. Councilmember Walker moved acceptance of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDER BID #05-16, ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR PRINTING: Logan Graphics, Inc. was the low overall bidder at $18,533.38 on the 103 items listed in the bid (stationery, envelopes, business cards, newsletters, and other printed forms). They are located at 434 W. Mockingbird Lane, which is convenient to our facilities. They also have printing contracts with the cities of Arlington and Grand Prairie, and Grand Prairie Independent School District. Each of the agencies was contacted, and each gave Logan Graphics good marks for quality, turnaround time, and delivery. CONSIDER BID #05-15, ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR FUELS: The City buys fuel based on a mark-up or mark-down from the daily average wholesale fuel prices for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area as published by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). Petroleum Traders, Inc. submitted the low qualified bid with an OPIS mark-up of $0.0132 for unleaded, $0.0152 for diesel #2, and $0.0152 for diesel #1. The City will purchase approximately $235,209 in fuel through this contract. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For July 5, 2005. MAIN AGENDA CONSIDER ORDINANCE ABANDONING CERTAIN EXCESS STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 4400 POTOMAC: Mr. Scott Smith, property owner of 4400 Potomac, was present for his request to the City to abandon a strip of excess street right-of-way along his Armstrong frontage. The Fair Market Value of the 1,047 square feet strip of land was calculated at $40 per square feet or $41,880. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the ordinance. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the abandonment to Mr. Smith. 476 ORDINANCE NO. 05/25 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, ABANDONING A PORTION OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF ARMSTRONG PARKWAY AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", TO THE ABUTTING OWNERS, ROBERT SCOTT SMITH AND TAMARA SUZANNE SMITH, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PAYMENT OF $41,880.00 TO THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE FURNISHING OF A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS ORDINANCE FOR RECORDING IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, AS A QUITCLAIM DEED OF THE CITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER ORDINANCE DENYING ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION REQUEST FOR GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GRIP) RATE INCREASE: In December 2004, Atmos Energy Corporation, formerly TXU Gas, filed a request with the City to implement an annual GRIP rate increase. The City has initial jurisdiction over such matters and, on January 19, 2005, the University Park City Council suspended the effective date of Atmos' proposed rate increase. The City also joined a coalition of cities (known as the Atmos Cities Steering Committee or ACSC) opposing the Company's filing at the Railroad Commission ("Commission") in any appeal of the cities' actions to the Commission. Upon review of the Atmos filing, the ACSC legal counsel and consultants found that the Company's proposal is unjustified, unreasonable, and not in compliance with the GRIP statute (Texas Utilities Code § 104.301), either in fact or in law. Coalition cities are now asking their governing bodies to approve ordinances denying the GRIP increase. Atmos will then appeal these ordinances to the Railroad Commission. In consideration of the City taking action before August 12, 2005 on the current GRIP request, Atmos has agreed not to file any additional GRIP requests (e.g., for 2004) before September 15, 2005. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the ordinance. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the denial of Atmos Energy Corporation's request for a GRIP rate increase. ORDINANCE NO. 05/26 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, DENYING THE REQUEST OF ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION, FOR AN ANNUAL GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GRIP) RATE INCREASE IN THIS MUNICIPALITY, AS A PART OF THE COMPANY'S STATEWIDE GAS UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; APPROVING COOPERATION WITH OTHER CITIES WITHIN THE ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS PART OF THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE (ACSC); AUTHORIZING ACSC TO HIRE LEGAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES AND TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMPANY AND DIRECT ANY NECESSARY LITIGATION; AUTHORIZING INTERVENTION AS PART OF ACSC IN ANY APPEAL OF THE CITY'S ACTION TO THE RAILROAD COMMISSION; APPROVING COSTS INCURRED AS REASONABLE AND PROVIDING A REQUIREMENT FOR PROMPT REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS; FINDING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW; AND PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF THIS ORDINANCE TO ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FINAL DESIGN AND COST ESTIMATE OF PARK INFORMATION SIGNS: On June 21, 2005, the city council had approved the design of the new park information signs. Sixteen cast iron sign frames would cost $1,660 each for a total of 477 $26,560. Sixteen ½" aluminum sign frames would cost $538.31 each for a total of $ 8,613. The aluminum signs have a five-year warranty and will have cast iron poles that will be set 15-20" in the ground. Signs should be ready by the end of the summer. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the aluminum signs. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the design and cost of aluminum park information signs. CONSIDER HILLCREST AT LOVERS LANE PARK PARKWAY AND MEDIAN DESIGN: On June 6, 2005, the city council approved a contract for design services with the Landscape Architecture Firm of Dunkin, Sims and Stoffels. The design services included the parkway and medians north of Lovers Lane at Snider Plaza, as well as, park properties at Hillcrest and Lovers Lane. The estimated cost would be $15,000-$20,000 based on plant size and availability. Councilmember Walker moved approval of the design, cost and landscape plan for the parkway and medians north of Lovers Lane at Snider Plaza and park properties at Hillcrest and Lovers Lane. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the park parkway and median design. CONSIDER SNIDER PLAZA SEASONAL TITLE BANNERS: It was suggested that the title banner be changed each season to avoid potential visual repetition. Park Director Gerry Bradley showed selections of banners for the fall and holidays. The dark green fall banner was selected, which was identified as "B". The dark green holiday banner was also selected, with the suggestion that the words "Snider Plaza" be in a brighter red. This banner was also identified as "B". Councilmember Walker moved approval of the seasonal title banners. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the "B" banners in both cases. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. PASSED AND APPROVED this 2nd day of August 2005. ~s E. Roberts, Mayor Pro Tempore