City Council approves Texas State Natural Gas rate increase
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at City Council Chambers at City Hall in Eagle Pass, Texas, addressing several important items including a rate increase for natural gas users.
The highlight of the special meeting agenda was the City Council’s unanimous approval of an ordinance of the City of Eagle Pass finding that the current rates of Texas State Natural Gas, Inc. are no longer reasonable and approving Texas State Natural Gas, Inc.’s revised rate schedules for residential sales, small volume commercial/industrial sales, large volume commercial/industrial sales and public authority sales, setting the effective date of the new rate increases for bills rendered on or after September 1, 2014.
The new natural gas rate average increases include a 1.3% increase or 46 cents per bill for residential customers, a 2.4% increase or $9.69 per bill for small commercial customers, a 2.3% increase or $6.51 per bill for Public Authority (Schools) customers, and a 2.6% increase or $147.16 per bill for large commercial customers.
The City Council also approved a second reading of an Ordinance establishing term limits for all Board and Committee appointments of the City Council. The new term limits ordinance applies only to those boards and committees appointed by the City Council that do not currently contain term limits pursuant to their respective charters or bylaws. The ordinance provides that “all individuals appointed to serve as a member of a board or committee of the City Council for a term of two (2) years or less shall be subject to a term limit of two (2) terms lasting the period of time designated by their appointment.”
The ordinance also provides that “all individuals appointed to serve as a member of a board or committee of the City Council for a term lasting more than two (2) years is subject to a one time term limit of service lasting the period of time designated by their appointment.” The ordinance further provides that “these term limits shall not apply to any individual serving an unexpired term or vacancy left by a former member of the board or committee.” This term limits of board and committee members appointed by City Council will take effect upon approval on its third reading. The public is welcomed to make comments regarding this ordinance at the next City Council meeting.
Another agenda item approved by the City Council was the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending Section 5-32, Article III, Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Eagle Pass to include Lot 1 and Lot 2 (total of 2.066 acres), Holiday Inn Express of Eagle Pass Subdivision (2006 N. Veterans Boulevard), for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises for the soon to open White Horse Lounge.
The City Council went into executive session to discuss three items in consultation with the City Attorney.
The first executive session agenda was consultation with Legal Counsel regarding the architectural/engineering firm for renovations to the Public Safety Complex. Once in open session, the City Council approved City Manager Gloria Barrientos to request proposals for contract procedures within six months and seek project management for the Public Safety Complex.
The renovations for the City of Eagle Pass Public Safety Complex (Old National Guard Armory) were approved by the City Council as part of the issuance of $8,485,000(million) in tax exempt obligations or bonds for improvements to municipal buildings, infrastructure, street and construction projects, and programs at their special meeting held on Tuesday, October 22, 2013.
Of the $8.485 Million Bonds, $2 Million will be used for the renovation of the National Guard Armory Building as the new headquarters of the Eagle Pass Police Department’s Public Safety Complex.
Another item discussed in executive session were legal issues related to the proposed Construction Agreement for the Town Square Subdivision involving Doral Eagle Pass Holdings LLC and Invermex LLC, the Proposed Construction Agreement for the Replat of the Park Commercial Subdivision involving Invermex LLC and MONSA Ltd., and the release of security associated with the two aforementioned subdivisions.
On June 18, 2013, during the City of Eagle Pass Planning and Zoning Department report to City Council regarding this matter, City Planning Department Director Bryan Shea stated that the applicant had cured all defects and complied with city code, therefore, they would now proceed with recordation of both subdivisions.
Once in open session, the City Council unanimously approved the City of Eagle Pass Subdivision Construction aggreement. The City of Eagle Pass will now authorize City Planning Director Bryan Shea to sign a contract . The City Council also authorized Eagle Pass City Manager Gloria Barrientos to release the cash security being held on behalf of these two subdivisions.
The third item discussed in executive session was pending litigation in Cause No. 13-09-28850-MCV, City of Eagle Pass, Texas vs. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Martinez, in the 293rd Judicial District Court of Maverick County, Texas. Once in open session, this item was tabled by the City Council as Mayor Ramsey English Cantu recused himself from participating on this matter due to a conflict of interest and Councilmen Luis E. Sifuentes and Rudy Villalpando were absent at the meeting. This pending lawsuit is regarding certain violations of the Eagle Pass Code of Ordinances on the property known as the re-plat of Lots 2 -10, Block 1, Range , Hillcrest Terrace Subdivision , which is owned by Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Martinez.
