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Agenda

Special
Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 5:30 PM
AI Meeting Summary

**Executive Summary: City of Belton Special Called City Council Meeting**

The City of Belton City Council convened a Special Called Meeting on October 27, 2020, to address several pivotal municipal matters. Key decisions made during the session included the denial of Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC’s proposed rate changes within the city limits, the rejection of all bids for the S. Penelope, N. Main Street, and Industrial Park Sidewalk Improvements Project, and the authorization for a significant upgrade to the city’s data center hardware. The Council also moved forward with plans to seek grant funding for a new community outdoor recreation program.

Among the most impactful decisions, the Council formally denied Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC’s application to change rates, a move aimed at safeguarding residents and businesses from potential utility cost increases. Additionally, the Council opted to reject all bids submitted for the crucial S. Penelope, N. Main Street, and Industrial Park Sidewalk Improvements Project. This decision suggests a need to re-evaluate the project's scope or costs, potentially delaying vital infrastructure enhancements. On an internal operational front, authorization was granted for the purchase of new Data Center Hardware, essential for replacing the City’s aging IT infrastructure and ensuring continued municipal service delivery.

While specific vote counts or explicit controversial items were not detailed in the provided materials, the Council's formal actions reflected clear decisions on each agenda item. Looking ahead, the denial of Oncor's rate increase means current utility rates will be maintained. The rejection of the sidewalk project bids will necessitate a re-evaluation and likely a new procurement process, which could impact the project timeline. The City will proceed with the authorized data center hardware purchase, and staff are now tasked with submitting the grant application for Project EXPLORE (Environmental Projects Linking Outdoor Recreation & Education) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with the program's launch dependent on successful funding. The meeting concluded with closed executive sessions for consultation with legal counsel and deliberation regarding real property matters, indicating ongoing sensitive city business.