Live Blog: Monday’s city council meetings (Oct. 7)

Atmos Energy Rate Increase: In July,  Atmos Mid-Tex filed an application with the city to increase natural gas rates pursuant to the Rate Review Mechanism (RRM) tariff renewed by the city in 2013. The filing sought a $22.7 million rate increase system-wide based on a test-year cost-of-service revenue deficiency of $25.7 million. This negotiated result is about $11 million less than what Atmos would have been entitled to if Atmos had filed a case under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program rather than an RRM case. The settlement is expected to increase the average residential customer’s bill by about 74 cents per month. If approved, the new rates would be effective Nov. 1.

After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop meeting was adjourned.

The regular meeting has started. Boy Scout Peter Ramirez of Troop 802 led the Pledge of Allegiance. Peter is a sixth-grader at Oakwood Intermediate School.

No one signed up to speak during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda.

The council unanimously approved these consent items:

• A three-year software license agreement for $150,000 with Esri for small government enterprise ArcGIS licenses.
• An interlocal agreement with the City of Paris for the sale of surplus equipment.
• An increase in rates for Atmos Energy of about 74 cents per month for average residential customers. The new rates are effective Nov. 1.
• A change order for $154,714.62 to the Northgate Substation construction contract.
• A supplement contract with Sungard Public Sector for one-time services of $6,240 and for recurring charges up to $18,000 annually to upgrade the software payment engine to a version that complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.
• A change order of $25,346 to the contract with Freese & Nichols for the Wolf Pen Creek Erosion Control Phase II Project.
• Authorized city staff to negotiate the purchase of easements needed for the Bee Creek Parallel Trunk Line Project.

By a 5-1 vote, the council approved these consent agenda items, with Councilmember Jess Fields voting against each item:

• A funding agreement for $350,000 for FY14 with the Research Valley Partnership.
• The FY14 budget for the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, and a $100,000 agreements for operations and maintenance. The city will provide $50,000 from the Hotel Tax Fund and $50,000 from General Fund.
• An $365,000 agreement with the Arts Council of Brazos Valley for affiliate funding and marketing. The money is provided through the Hotel Tax Fund.
• The FY14 budget for the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a $1.38 million funding agreement from the Hotel Tax Fund.
• A $128,000 funding agreement with the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau to administer the CVB’s grant program. The money is provided through the Hotel Tax Fund.
• Renewal of a $78,000 annual bid award with CC Creations ($45,000) and Monograms and More ($33,000) for the purchase of city-branded uniforms for parks athletic programs and for other city departments.

7:14 p.m.

The regular meeting was adjourned. The council meets again Oct. 24.