Item 4I - Memo and ResolutionCITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
February 26, 2021
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Daniel Cortez, Director of Economic Development & Tourism
Subject: Item 41: Resolution No. 21-010, Approving a Resolution of the City of
Southlake, Texas to the Texas State Legislature in Support of Legislation
that Prohibits Utility Providers from Selectively Turning Off Power or
Natural Gas Supply to Critical Public Infrastructure Such as Municipal
Emergency Response Buildings, Regional Water Districts, Water
Treatment Plants, and Sewer Lift Stations.
Action
Requested: Approval of Resolution 21-010, approving the support of state legislation
that prohibits utility providers from selectively turning off power or natural
gas supply to critical public infrastructure.
Background
Information: In the early morning hours of February 15, 2021 the City of Southlake,
along with most other communities across the state of Texas
experienced what was referred to by public utility companies as "rolling
blackouts" which continued largely until the end of the week on February
19th and resulted in long-term power outages lasting several days. While
city buildings specifically did not experience any power outages, parts of
the City's critical infrastructure did.
Due to loss of power, several of the City's infrastructure systems such as
the City's supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems
went offline which required City crews to manually inspect sanitary sewer
lift stations, water pumps and towers. In addition to the emergency
manual operation of infrastructure systems, city crews experienced
various equipment challenges due to the low temperatures and the
extended periods of power loss made it difficult to keep infrastructure
equipment functioning.
In addition to these local challenges, the City and its residents were
impacted further by regional challenges due to the loss of power and its
effects on the water distribution system from the City of Fort Worth that
feeds water into the City of Southlake. These challenges resulted in the
City having insufficient water for its residents or even emergency
operations, such as fire services, and a boil water notice that lasted five
days.
Resolution 20-041, if approved, is to support legislation in the Texas
Legislature to immediately pass legislation that would prohibit ERCOT,
ONCOR, TriCounty Electric Cooperative, Atmos Energy or any other
electric or natural gas service provider from discontinuing service to
critical municipal, water, and sewer infrastructure.
Financial
Considerations: None
Strategic Link: This item is specifically linked to the City's Strategy Map through 132:
Collaborate with select partners to implement service solutions
Citizen Input/
Board Review: None required
Legal Review: The City Attorney has prepared the proposed resolution for consideration
by the City Council
Alternatives: Deny the resolution which would result in the City of Southlake taking no
formal position on legislation that could be drafted by the Texas State
Legislature.
Supporting
Documents: Resolution No. 21-010
Staff Contact: Daniel Cortez (817) 748-8039
RESOLUTION NO. 21-010
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, TO THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE IN
SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS UTILITY PROVIDERS
FROM SELECTIVELY TURNING OFF POWER OR NATURAL GAS
SUPPLY TO CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS
MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE BUILDINGS, REGIONAL
WATER DISTRICTS, WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, AND SEWER
LIFT STATIONS.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas ("City") recognizes the importance of
protecting the infrastructure that generates and delivers power to homes and businesses in
Texas, which may from time to time require the implementation of rolling blackouts across the
region and/or the State; and,
WHEREAS, the City also recognizes the importance of maintaining public health and
safety to the community it serves, which simply cannot happen without the provision of safe
drinking water and adequate sanitary sewer services; and,
WHEREAS, the City wishes to express its disbelief and disappointment that the
Energy Reliability Council of Texas (hereinafter referred to as "ERCOT"), ONCOR Electric
Delivery (hereinafter referred to as "ONCOR"), or any other service provider would so much
as consider discontinuing electric service to critical water and sewer infrastructure during a
global pandemic, particularly when proper hygiene has proven to be one of the most effective
methods of preventing the spread of a deadly virus; and,
WHEREAS, the City is acutely aware that many of the water suppliers that serve the
Dallas Fort Worth area were forced to issue Boil Water Notices as a result of an interruption
in electric or other utility service; and,
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that almost all of the methods of communicating the
need to boil water prior to using it for hygiene or consumption require access to electricity and
that boiling water also requires access to electricity or natural gas; and,
WHEREAS, the City wishes to request the passage of legislation that prohibits
ERCOT, ONCOR, or any other utility service provider from interrupting or discontinuing
electric or essential utility service to critical water and sewer infrastructure as a means of
reducing load on the system.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That That the Texas Legislature immediately pass legislation that
prohibits ERCOT, ONCOR, or any other electric or critical utility service
provider from discontinuing service to critical water and sewer
infrastructure. the findings set forth in this Resolution are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to make this
Resolution available to all members of the Senate and House of
Representatives on behalf of the City of Southlake, Texas.
Section 3. The resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this day of , 2021.
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY
MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY