06-24-19 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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MAY ARISE OR GROW OUT OF THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES HEREBY GRANTED OR BY THE ABUSE THEREOF, AND THE COMPANY OR ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD CITY GROUP HARMLESS FROM AND ON ACCOUNT OF ALL DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, ACTIONS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION THAT MAY ACCRUE TO OR BE BROUGHT BY, A PERSON, PERSONS, COMPANY OR COMPANIES AT ANY TIME HEREAFTER BY REASON OF THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES HEREBY GRANTED, OR OF THE ABUSE THEREOF. Section 14. RELOCATION OF FACILITIES. The Company shall, upon written request of the City, relocate its Facilities within Public Rights -of -Way at Company's own expense, exclusive of Facilities installed for service directly to City, whenever such shall be reasonably necessary on account of the widening, change of grade, or relocation by City of Public Rights -of -Way, or construction or relocation by City of City utility lines or drainage facilities. City shall bear the costs of all relocations of Facilities installed for service directly to City and of any relocation of other Facilities requested by City for reasons other than the widening, change of grade, or relocation by City of Public Rights -of -Way, or construction or relocation by the City of City utility lines or drainage facilities. Section 15. GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION. All of the regulations and activities required by this Franchise are hereby declared to be governmental functions and for the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Section 16. RECORDS AND REPORTS. (a) Books of Account. The Company shall keep complete and accurate books of accounts and records of its business and operations under and in connection with this Franchise. All such books of accounts and records shall be kept at the company's principal office in Houston, Texas. (b) Access by City. The City may conduct an audit or other inquiry or may pursue a cause of action in relation to the payment of the franchise fee only if such audit, inquiry, or pursuit of a cause of action concerns a payment made less than three (3) years before the commencement of such audit, inquiry, or pursuit of a cause of action. Each party shall bear its own costs of any such audit or inquiry. Upon receipt of a written request from the City, all books and records related to Company's operations under this Franchise shall be made available for inspection and copying no later than thirty (30) days from receipt of such request. (c) Interest on Underpayments and Overpayments. (1) Amounts due to City for late payments shall include interest, compounded daily equal to the return on equity plus three percent (3%) granted to the Company in its most recent proceeding fixing rates applicable to customers within the corporate limits of the City. (2) If the City identifies, as a result of a franchise fee compliance review, amounts owed by the Company from prior periods or prior underpayments, then the Company shall pay simple interest on such amounts equal to the return on equity granted to the Company in its most recent proceeding fixing rates applicable to customers within the corporate limits of the City. Said interest shall be payable on such sums from the date the initial payment was due until it is paid and shall not be billed to customers. (3) Amounts due Company for past overpayments shall include simple interest equal to the return on equity granted to the Company in its most recent proceeding fixing rates applicable to customers within the corporate limits of the City; provided, however, if there is a change in the approved return on equity during the time period subject to the City's audit or inquiry, then for each time period during which there was an overpayment, the approved return on equity in effect during such time period shall be used in