Plans call for 4-way stop with traffic signals
A short agenda of business addressing ordinances for water leak adjustments, Opioid Funds, CLFRF ARPA Funds and a Racial Profiling Report for the police department made for a short Center City Council meeting Monday, Feb. 27.
“Items of Interest from the council, city manager and citizens that required no action” was a considerably longer list of news including a project to modify traffic control at the intersection of Loop 500 and Texas Hwy 7E.
Center City Manager Chad Nehring said the city was advised the change will be initiated by TXDoT within the next month. The intersection will be “transitioned into a 4-way stop with signalization and roadway … similar to the Texas Hwy 87 and Loop 500 intersection.” The change is reportedly being made following “repeated traffic incidents.”
Also on the “items of interest” list was a progress report on the South Elevated Water Tank Project. Construction of the piping was reported by Nehring as complete for the tank connection, and progress should become more visible by March with the installation of upright steel support structure. The tank “bowl” is not expected prior to June.
The council approved Ordinance 20232 “Amending Utility Billing Policy - Leak Adjustment.
Nehring said the draft would formalize a 25+ year practice that was never completely effected and was perpetuated over time as established policy. “As it has been utilized,” Nehring noted, “residential customers have been able to receive some relief from excessive bills due resulting from documented and repaired leaks.
“Recently, business accounts and repetitive claims, led to deeper research for the written policy form the 90s or earlier, that could not be produced.
“The practice utilized by the billing clerk as transferred over time from predecessors has been suspended until approved and standardized.”
The section addressing “leak adjustments” reads:
Leak Adjustment
“A residential account may be eligible for an adjustment generating an unusual increase in metered consumption for the billing cycle in which the leak originated. To be eligible, the water leak must be verified by City personnel or meter data log and the leak conditions resolved including written documentation of repairs. An account shall only be eligible for one such adjustment annually and must have minimum of three billing cycles as an active account. The billing adjustment shall be for the charges associated with ½ of the increase in water/sewer service bill above the greater of either 1) the average metered consumption of the most recent three (3) billing cycles or 2) the average metered consumption from the prior year of the adjustment bill cycle and the surrounding billing cycles (months 11. 12, & 13 prior to adjustment period).”
Opioid Fund
Also passed was Ordinance 2023-3 Creation of Special Law Enforcement Opioid Fund.
This action will create a designated, separate fund, similar to the seizure fund and municipal court funds with designated revenue sources and limited legal uses. All revenue and expenses of this fund are allocated by Council budget and isolated from comingling with other funds for audit purposes and to ensure compliance with legal uses.
CLFRF Funds Use
Resolution 2023-8 - Amended Designation of Use for Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) - According to council packet information, “This proposed resolution modifies the priority use for the ARPA/coronavirus recovery act funding that was directly provided for infrastructure enhancements. The original allocation included $400,000 for Broadband based on the match for the federal NTJA grant project, which was not awarded funding. Local expenditure related to the broadband development agreement with ETEX is primarily funded by the CEDC or budgeted by future allocations from varying sources. Dedication to this sole project will complete activities using these funds much more expeditiously and simplify reporting so that grant administrator expenses can be avoided, and all funds go directly into capital infrastructure costs.”
Annual Racial Profiling Report Texas police departments are required to compile and present to the city council, a state-mandated Racial Profiling Report annually per state guidelines. The Center Police Department’s report was presented. According to the council meeting notes, no deficiencies were noted. No action was required by the council.
Other Items of Interest included:
• Annual Audit – Fiscal Year22 – “The draft report should be prepared soon for presentation in March.”
• Water System Projects - Mill Creek Rehab Project- The filter rehab for the water treatment plant and the vendor is delivering the filter media and underdrains the first week of March. The 2–3-day project will not interrupt water production.”
• Street Projects – “Drewery Construction Company continues to struggle with the two remaining items. Childs St asphalt and the culvert replacement on George Ihlo Drive. Both are currently scheduled for completion next week which will complete the current construction contract. Staff will be preparing a draft program of construction for the next cycle for the Street EDC to consider at an upcoming meeting.”
• Digital Billboards - TXDoT Permit Regulations – “According to information from an interested installer of billboard(s), TXDoT implemented enhanced rules to obtain a permit for digital billboard that requires very specific language by cities authorizing those installations. The City’s off-premises sign/billboard regulations of the zoning ordinance was determined by TXDoT not to be explicit enough in allowing digital (changing) billboards for applicants to obtain a state permit, generating a request for Council to consider amendment.”
• Wastewater Treatment Plant - Reconditioning/ repair of main blowers/pumps continues. “The plant sustained a rather substantial inflow of disinfectant and anti- bacterial which created havoc, destroying the biological operation of the system and complicating permit compliance. With a rapid reaction and some additional expenses, the problems appear to be minimized and prevented permit violations and exceedances. Investigation is ongoing and may result in significant enforcement action for industrial customer discharge violations.”
• Sewer System – “City staff has worked through two significant issues creating system problems over the last several weeks. Both issues with problematic discharges from customers have been resolved cooperatively and staff reacted quickly enough removing blockages to prevent any damages to other customers or system overflows. (The city) is still working with Railroad Commission staff that has been determined to have concrete flowed into areas containing and ultimately impacting sewer lines in the area south of downtown obstructing or damaging some sewer lines. So far, the RRC is responding to attempt to resolve problems created by their activity.”
• TXDoT TAP preliminary submission – “Initial response included that many more applications were received than funding will allow.”
• Rotary Club Donation – “(The city) has provided the club leadership with options for accessible playground equipment at their request and the club may be presenting a proposal and donation to the Council for consideration at a future meeting.
• Airport - CIP & Federal Funds – “TXDoT Aviation is coordinating with staff to adapt the current State’s CIP to push out the original schedule for our airport by a year, allowing for additional planning and study to determine the scale of the next runway enhancement project and the severity of subsurface water drainage issues. This enhanced ALP (Airport Layout Plan) should also provide through a master plan the project priorities for the next 20+ years.”
• TABC Permits – “With revised and updated TABC regulations from last year as well as new permit issuances, notices are being sent out to state permit holders that have not completed their local permit requirements prior to notifying TABC of violations or failure to comply.”
• Boards/Committee/Commission Appointments - The City Secretary is updating appointee lists to boards to be provided on a consistent basis to allow time for recruitment and recommendation before terms expire.
After determining no executive session was required, the meeting was adjourned.