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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGBA 2009-11-12 MinutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GAS BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS NOVEMBER 12, 2009 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Duer at 6:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT Chairman Tom Duer Randy Shiflet Garry Cope Marty Kusmerski ABSENT CITY STAFF Director of Planning & Dev. Assistant Dir. Public Works Fire Marshall Recording Secretary Kathy Luppy John Pitstick Greg VanNeiuwenhuize Lt. Greg Lindsey Teresa Koontz 3. Approval of July 9, 2009 Gas Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes. APPROVED Randy Shiflet, seconded by Garry Cope, motioned to approve the minutes from July 9, 2009. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). 4. Update on Gas Well Sites and Proposed Gas Pipelines John Pitstick stated that this same power point presentation was given to City Council recently. He said there are four current well sites with twelve approved gas wells. The Graham Well site has three producing, one active drilling and one pending well. Morrow Stevens Well site has two drilled and one pending well waiting pipeline connection. The Birdville Well site has three drilled wells waiting pipeline connection. Tarrant County College Well site has one active well waiting pipeline connection and was required to obtain a Special Use Permit for the well. Page 1 of 3; 11/12/2009 GBA minutes Mr. Pitstick explained that there are some potential well sites at Little Bear Creek, Engler Property, Kest Property and Iron Horse area. He explained that other potential sites may exist but Staff has not received any detailed information or permit requests. Mr. Pitstick said pipeline companies have legal rights to acquire and condemn property as a public utility and the cities do not have formal regulatory control over private property unless only within rights-of-way and city owned properties. In an effort to be proactive regarding the control gas pipeline companies, the City Council passed Resolution No. 2008-037 on June 23, 2008. This resolution encourages pipeline alignments within existing utility and roadway corridors, open dialog with property owners, utilize direct boring where possible and bury pipelines a minimum of 5 feet and establish pipeline easements away from residential neighborhoods and on peripheries of prime commercial properties. There was a discussion about the depth of the existing pipelines in the Graham Well site area. Mr. Pitstick said North Richland Hills has required formal survey approval of city properties for pipeline companies seeking potential gas pipeline alignments. Texas Midstream has been given survey permission throughout the city to determine pipeline alignments with agreement to follow resolution guidelines. Enterprise Texas has been given survey permission for Iron Horse Golf Course and Fossil Creek Park with agreement to the follow resolution guidelines. There is an existing Exxon Mobile 8 inch pipeline utilized by Graham well site and potential Kest property site. There are several existing valuing stations located throughout the Watauga and North Richland Hills for the distribution of this pipeline. Mr. Pitstick said Enterprise Texas is proposing a 30 inch transmission pipeline through Fossil Creek Park and Iron Horse Golf Course. There has been an agreed alignment and shared 20 ft. easement with Texas Midstream. Greg VanNeiuwenhuize explained new technologies for boring the sites, Enterprise prefers to store cable on top of the ground, whereas Texas Midstream drills their pilot hole underground. Enterprise has been instructed that they are not to disrupt the golf course while doing the drilling. The companies are considering going in vertical 90 feet below and one at 70 ft below the golf course simultaneously. The golf course will remain open while this process is going on. Page 2 of 3; 11/12/2009 GBA minutes 5. Review of Gas Well Drilling and Production Ordinance John Pitstick said the fees will remain the same for the applications including administration, plan review and inspections, but as the companies are crossing rights of way, we will charge for cost of service fees. We will now be cutting a twenty year agreement with the pipeline companies based on $2.35 per linear foot X twenty years= $47.00 per linear foot as they cross the rights of way. This is same fee as the City of Fort Worth charges and we feel the fees can be justified due to the annual inspections and other inspections that are required by law. This will allow the pipeline companies to bring a whole section of crossings to City Council at one time as apposed to individual cases. There will be separate pipeline license agreements for City owned properties with specific stipulations and fees. The City license agreements will be approved in the first quarter of 2010 and construction is anticipated to begin mid to late 2010. Mr. Pitstick said the key to our gas ordinance shows that we are "pro-drilling" with open doors to allow drilling in our community, but we have very high standards. We have in house inspectors who can be there on the spot if any problems arise. In addition is the independent Gas Board who works with staff and can help make things more efficient. Overall, there has been a very good working relationship with the gas companies. There was a discussion about compressor stations and complaints that other cities have been dealing with. Currently we do not allow compressor stations and it would have to go through approval for those types of structures. Tom Duer asked about the noise barrier walls and there was a discussion about the temporary walls at the drilling sites. Randy Shiftlet asked when was this current ordinance being proposed to bring to City Council? John Pitstick explained that section 104.32 shows the current fees and the changes will be combined into one fee for a twenty year lease. 6. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. Chairman Secretary ~~--./ •~,.,~ ~p Tom Duer Kath Luppy Page 3 of 3; 11 /12/2009 GBA minutes