2008-03-24 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte City Council

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'r1 '.s op-Notj- no-F- R-PO4 e1 RESOLUTION NO. — RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE SUSPENDING THE APRIL 10, 2008, EFFECTIVE DATE OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., DB/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS (CENTERPOINT) REQUESTED RATE CHANGE TO PERMIT THE CITY TIME TO STUDY THE REQUEST AND TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE RATES; APPROVING COOPERATION WITH THE GULF COAST COALITION OF CITIES AND OTHER CITIES IN THE CENTERPOINT AREA TO HIRE LEGAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES AND TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMPANY AND DIRECT ANY NECESSARY LITIGATION AND APPEALS; RATIFYING THE SELECTION OF LLOYD GOSSELINK AS LEGAL COUNSEL; REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT OF CITIES' RATE CASE EXPENSES; FINDING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW; REQUIRING NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COMPANY AND LEGAL COUNSEL WHEREAS, on or about March 6, 2008, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas ("CenterPoint" or "Company"), pursuant to Gas Utility Regulatory Act § 104.102 filed with the City of La Porte a Statement of Intent to change gas rates in all municipalities exercising original jurisdiction within its Texas Coast Division service area effective April 10, 2008; and WHEREAS, it is reasonable for the City of La Porte to maintain its involvement in the Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities ("GCCC") and to cooperate with the other similarly situated city members in conducting a review of the Company's application and to hire and direct legal counsel and consultants and to prepare a common response and to negotiate with the Company and direct any necessary litigation; and WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act § 104.107 grants local regulatory authorities the right to suspend the effective date of proposed rate changes for ninety (90) days; and WHEREAS, the Gas Utility Regulatory Act § 103.022 provides that reasonable costs incurred by Cities in ratemaking activities are to be reimbursed by the regulated utility; and WHEREAS, on or about March 6, 2008 simultaneous with the filing with the City, CenterPoint filed a Statement of Intent to change gas rates for the Texas Coast environs with the Railroad Commission of Texas referred to as Gas Utility Docket ("GUD") No. 9791.