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TOP JOBS

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Tyler City Council members plan to ask Oncor Electric Delivery Co. to hold off on planned rate increases until city officials have the chance to look over the increase proposal more closely.

City Council members will vote on the resolution asking for a 90-day suspension at their regular meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 212 N. Bonner Ave.

Oncor filed an application on June 27 with cities across the state to increase systemwide transmission and distribution rates by $275 million. The company asked Tyler to approve a 17.6 percent increase in residential rates, a 9.1 percent increase in commercial rates and a 5.8 percent increase in street lighting rates. According to Oncor, annual rates would increase by $60 for an average residential customer.

Gary Landers, Tyler city attorney, said the resolution would require Oncor to delay putting the rate increases into effect, now scheduled for Aug. 8, until Tyler and other affected cities could more closely review the increase proposal.

“Rather than approve or deny it, we’re just going to ask for a little more time to review it,” Landers said. “Tyler is part of a steering committee of cities that have jurisdiction over Oncor, and they will take a look at the books and figure things out.”

On Wednesday, the council also plans to vote on the following items:

Zoning change requests for 1358 E. Richards St.; 2803 E. Erwin St.; 105 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.; and 1106 and 1110 N. Glenwood Blvd.

Site plan amendment for 2320 W. Grande Blvd.

Preliminary parcel development plan for 10.22 acres at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and Loop 49.

Designation for Senator Tomas Glover Pollard for the Half-Mile of History program.

Presentation on the status of the Half-Cent prioritization project and update on the Five Year Half-Cent Capital Improvement program.

Tax sales.

Ordinance amending city code to adopt a monthly $2 surcharge for Solid Waste customers who do not receive automated collection service for residential units and to implement a fuel recovery fee for Tyler Solid Waste customers.

Ordinance approving the Housing Choice Voucher Program’s Administrative Plan and Annual Plan for FY 2008-09.

Ordinance adopting the FY 2008-09 Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs and adopting the budget as recommended.

Certificate of Approp-riateness for proposed alterations to the historic Saleh-Witt home, 1208 S. College Ave.

The following items are included on the consent agenda and will be considered together in one vote:

Renewal of maintenance agreement with NEC Techn-ologies for the Automated Fingerprint Identification Sys-tem at the Tyler Police Department for $6,936.

Contract No. TYL-276 to Red River Construction Co. for $113,900 for expansion of the Gilley Creek Lift Station.

City Council members will meet in executive session immediately following the regular meeting. Items to be discussed in executive session are closed to the public and include pending litigation with The Cascades and/or Western Rim Property Services; possible financial or other incentive offers to a business prospect with which the city is conducting economic development negotiations; and the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.