HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 7318 ORDINANCE NO. 31Y1
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS
OF COMMUNICATIONS BY PUBLIC UTILITIES, THEIR AFFILIATES
AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, The Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (Art.
1446c, R.C.S.) provides generally, in part, that each munici-
pality shall have exclusive original jurisdiction for the
regulation of the rates and services of all public utilities
providing service within its municipal limits and has defined
each municipality as the Regulatory Authority for the purpose
of exercising such jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Section 34 of the Public utility Regulatory Act
provides that the Regulatory Authority shall prescribe regula-
tions governing communications by public utilities, their
affiliates and their representatives, with the Regulatory
Authority or any member or employee of the Regulatory Authority;
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That each public utility doing business with the City of
Fort Worth shall maintain a record Of all contacts, oral or
written, initiated by officers, employees or other representatives
of the public utility or its affiliates with any member of the
Fort Worth City Council or City of Fort Worth staff having utility
regulatory responsibilities when the subject matter of the communi-
cation pertains to the regulation of rates and services. Exempt
from this record-keeping requirement are:
a. Casual social contacts.
b. Contacts by the utility with City employees
when such contacts do not pertain directly
to the regulation of rates and services.
C. Responses to routine inquiries initiated by
City employees,
SECTION 2.
That records of contacts covered by this ordinance shall
be retained for a period of one (1) year and in content shall
comply with the requirements of Section 34(b) , Article 1446c,
Revised Civil Statutes, provided, that a copy of a written
communication may be retained as a record of such communication.
SECTION 3.
That records generated as a consequence of this Ordinance
shall be available for inspection by the public at the utilities'
main business office in the City of Fort Worth during normal
business hours between the 10th and 15th of the month following
the month to which such records pertain and shall be available
for inspection by the City Council or the City Manager upon
reasonable notice during normal business hours.
SECTION 4.
That this Ordinance shall take effect on and after the date
of its passage.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
City
Adopted:
Effective-
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� V IMILECity ®f Fort Worth, Texas
UNE
BAILIFF Mayor and Council Communication
GRAHAM
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Ordinance Providing Rules for PAGE
AUGHINBk UH NUMBER Contact Between Public Utilities and
2/23/76 G-2975 I. of 1
�OHNDRO the City of Fort Worth
In the Public Utility Regulatory Act, Section 34, Paragraph (a) and (b)
reads as follows:
"Sec. 34. (a) The regulatory authority shall prescribe
regulations governing communications by public utilities,
their affiliates and their representatives, with the regula-
tory authority or any member or employee of the regulatory
authority.
(b) Such records shall contain the name of the person
contacting the regulatory authority or member or employee
of the regulatory authority, the name of the business entities
represented, a brief description of the subject matter of the
communication, and the action; if any, requested by the public
utility, affiliate, or representative. These records shall be
available to the public on a monthly basis."
The attached ordinance has been prepared by the Department of Law to comply
with these provisions.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the attached ordinance be adopted by the City Council
and that copies be made available to all public utilities in Fort Worth.
RNL:ms
Attachment
SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSITION_BY COUNCIL: PROCESSED BY .i
"PPROVED / ❑ OTHER (DESCRIBE) /
�CITY SECRETARY
DATE y
CITY MANAGER "�i