Correct. We're live. Okay. And the mics are on. Um we called the special meeting today uh basically to be proactive over this recent um cold weather that we've had. I do want to just for housekeeping.
Um we called the meeting. All the commissioners were contacted um the evening of 23. >> Yes sir. >> Correct. The notice went out yesterday morning at approximately 10 o'clock. >> Yes, ma'am. >> 10:00 a.m. And all of the commissioners
were contacted to see how they wanted to receive their package. We had Commissioner Devito wave her delivery. She came to the office and picked it up. Commissioner Lori waved his delivery. Commissioner Burton waved her delivery and Commissioner Moore came by the office and picked hers up. So, everyone
was properly noticed as required by our charter. Yes, sir. Just wanted to make that for housekeeping purposes. Um, and then if we can, let's go ahead. Commissioner Moore, if you would please lead us in our invitation. Everyone stand a.
Dear heavenly father, we want to thank you for our rising on this morning. We thank you for this day that you we receive it and we receive it in love. We ask that you be with us today. Guide our minds, guide our intentions, guide our knowledge and understanding that we might be able to do that blessed will.
Help us dear Lord to be who you would have us to be. And Lord, in this hour we ask you to bless every great family, everyone that's going through at this moment. Anyone that's sick and shut in, have mercy upon them in the mighty name of Jesus we pray. We ask you be with us.
Help us and help our community, this state, and this country. In the name of Jesus, we do pray. >> Amen. >> Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Thank you. Miss Taylor, if you would please do a roll call for us. Mayor Myers, >> present. Commissioner Deo.
>> Commissioner Lord >> here. Commissioner Moore >> here. >> Commissioner Burton >> here. >> City Manager Derek Martin >> here. >> City Attorney Leonardo Viega
>> here. >> Finance Director Steve Coffman >> here. >> Public works director Kei Harris >> here. >> Present city natural gas director David Frank >> here. utility building director Joselyn Barry >> here
>> and myself Pamela Taylor is the code enforcement officer and sitting in his support. >> Okay, thank you. And with that, let's go ahead and and and get started. Um I I asked that um before we really get into
the natural gas just for umformational purposes, Mr. Harris mentioned to me the other day about the water consumption um and just kind of give us an update on where we were as far as where our water consumption is. Okay.
>> Absolutely. >> Don't want to get too comfortable. >> Keith Harris public works. Um yeah, over the cold we had some large usage of water Sunday. We've used over 400,000 gallons. Normally, we're using roughly
160 a day. It's come back down. We don't know if it was just everybody had their spets on them. >> I mean, some people had stuff that was broken >> for a short period of time. >> Um, and then, you know, of course, you
mentioned to me about the school I went by and took care of that. It was the meteor was broke at the back. I don't think that was a lot of work. The new elementary school, they had a broken copper line on the altitude metal to the
new storage tank, which was not a lot. Hit 38 line. Um Jason has rode it around. We haven't found anything major. It is back down. We're down to about roughly
probably 200,000 a day. So, it is coming back down. So, I think we're doing pretty good right now. And the new the 100,000galon tank is back online. They finally got done with that. So, that's back online. So, hopefully everything
can get straightened out with the smelly water, rusty water. Um, just, you know, we hope. >> There's a few homes that in business of course that has had some issues with that. >> Yep. >> Do you think they'll take care of it? Hopefully.
>> Yep. I'm hoping it's going to help cuz of course with the 400,000 like Dave said earlier, he should have flushed the system pretty good. So, I mean, but we'll see. >> But, but we're okay. >> Yeah. And Jason and Jason will keep in touch with me. He's been letting me know
every day roughly what that it's going back down. As of right now, we're still up and that was yesterday. >> We had no electricity. No, no, nothing went down. >> Nothing that I know of. >> We were very blessed. Thankf for taking care of that.
>> Okay. Thank you. I just want to make sure all the commissioners were made aware. Yes. >> I have a question. >> Yes. So, I'm not really sure I understand what the issue is with you're saying the demand on a system was approximately doubled. Is that right? It
wasn't. >> It could have been because of everybody running spots with the cold weather. >> Right. But what I'm saying is what is the issue is that capacity. We're going to run out of capacity. >> No, no, no. We just we were using way more water than we should have been. We
only normally use 160,000 gallons a day. >> Okay. >> And it was 400 Sunday. >> So that's way up. >> And that could be because like I said, people had leaks, broken pipes, and hopefully and it's coming back down. So
I think pretty good. >> There's not an issue. I just wanted him to give us a report because Of course, that's a that's a that's usage and so that's going to be reflected bills. Yes. >> Well, we have to also we have to keep
track of it because we have to let the St. John's water board know how much water we used and I believe it has to be filed with the DED2. >> Okay. >> And then of course they want to know why and where it went. So we it's kind of like Dave, he has to do a lawsuit on his
gas. Same thing. We have to do it with the water. Okay. >> Well, the other thing is just simple. I mean, if you have any drips on your house or anything, water bills going up. >> Yeah. >> I have three spets, a house, and garage going. So,
>> thank you. >> Could I ask one more question just so just so we understand who are not experts on this? Um, when the weather gets this cold and it's been even colder in past years, we drip our faucets.
>> Mhm. So, in your experience, just people dripping their faucets is not going to bring us up to the 400,000 gallons a day. >> I wouldn't think so because it was only that one day. >> So, that could have been
>> Well, this was Sunday we used that much water. Not Saturday and Sunday. >> Okay. >> And Monday. It was Sunday and it come back it started coming back down Monday. >> Got it. But I'm just saying normally when we have a real cold snap like 20s, it's been the teens here before
unfortunately and you would not expect to see that jump just because of a little >> It might go up some, but it's not going to go up that much. >> Okay. >> So there could have been, like I said, you know, mayor had a broken spot. >> Got it. >> And no telling how much water she
actually used before they got shut off. >> That was very quick. It was 30 minutes. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm just saying that's that's a lot of water in 30 minutes. The mayor did not cause the mayor did not >> we'll know when we when she gets to work >> but that was also I mean no sooner did
that happen with us. We were trying to secure spets and it broke off. Um I went somewhere else that afternoon and the exact same thing I heard on the phone and you could hear the water just shooting out. Their sp broke as well and so it I think that probably happened a
lot. mine broke >> and and and yours and in that period of time I will say that when a spet breaks it was amazing to me um how how much water came out of that >> sp Yeah. So we had quite a few spets and
from the plumbers in town I've also heard that there were quite a few repairs come the week during the weekend and on Monday. I mean, we had like some of the toilets were running. Uh, the valves were stuck. Jason rode around all the bathrooms and checked them and he
found two of them that were um with them slung valves and they do put out quite a bit of water. >> Um, so, you know, that's hopefully it's we're getting all them fixed again. So, >> yeah. Well, thank you. I just wanted to make sure that everybody was aware and
then and put people on on notice also that when you do get your bill, it probably will show up. Is that correct, Joselyn? That usage will show up in the February bill, not the current bill that's >> Yes, sir. Thank you. So, first and foremost, thank you all for taking the
time today of your personal lives and schedule to come here. Hopefully, we can make this short and sweet. Um, as you all know, I sent an email out to you all on January 29th. Um, and that's what you have in your packet as well. Some of the information's changed a little bit. Um,
but if you go to the topic on natural gas and resident support, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss the impact of extreme cold weather uh, and on our natural gas supply and the pricing. Um, we also want to review proposed resident support measures. And I have had uh our
director of CCNG here, David Frank, if he'd like to speak. Um I'm talk about a little bit of our background information, where we are today and what our plans are moving forward and what we need approval for. >> Okay. >> You want to start with questions? You on >> No, Mr. Frank, first I want to thank you
for bringing this to light and and allowing us to be proactive at this time. So, thank you for being on top of this and um and keeping us informed. >> Yeah, I just want to offset some of our customers. They're going to be very upset because they're very bad about a
either not opening their bill. It's an auto withdrawal or whatever, but or they'll just do a quick look at the bill, they don't read the inserts, which Josen and Derk prepared a great insert, but if they don't read it, they just looked at the bill, they're going to get a headache.
and we can take care of that for them. But uh but the system did well. I mean this was to me I put this freeze equal to the Christmas Eve 83 freeze. Christmas that 83 got a hair colder but this one lasted a whole lot longer and
it affected 30 40 about 35 states. So it's it's one for the record books. the gas industry is itself is going to have to make up new guidelines for weather like this. Um there's not a whole lot we
could have done but the gas industry as a whole but you know when you're subzero and all your other infrastructures are freezing up. Solar was covered in snow. Wind farms were the blades were frozen up. Hydro the the streams and the lakes
were frozen. So it it put all on nuclear and natural gas. So it was a major strain on the whole infrastructure and natural gas in the United States. But our system did well. I mean we come in at 100 pounds. That's our highest
pressure. Crescent city at the lowest pressure we have is 96 lb so far from I guess early last week. Probably in the last 10 days. We went from 100 to 99. Then we went to 98. Then when the cold weather really hit, we dropped to 96,
but we're holding at 96. All of our station pressures at all our local towns are doing fine. They didn't drop at all. So, it was a major test for us. Uh it's been a major test for the gas industry as a whole. And uh we've had multiple
conversations here in the last four or five days. And my last call, I called their director and I could hear her laughing in the background. She picked the phone up. I go, "What's so funny about all this?" She goes, "Well, apparently you've been calling everybody but me." And we're all in here having a
little pow right now. All of us in the main office talking about your system. So, uh, I was just following the route there. But anyway, um, I don't see any problems as far as us paying our gas bill itself. FGU, fire gas utilities
that handles our gas bill, said they will work with us any way possible. they can spread the bills out three, four months, whatever we need to do. Now, it's just a matter of getting our customers to pay the bill because it's hard for us to pay our bill if our customers don't pay the bill. And I can
understand that we have multiple customers that are on fixed income, elderly, so a little burp on their bill, you know, they get very upset, especially our Crescent City accounts because it's not just gas they get, it's water and sewer. So the bills may be big
anyway, but I have to tell them, but only the small part of it is a gas bill because in the past we always used to have separate bills, but then the city voted to change that out to St. So that's that's a problem itself. But Josyn has got an excellent form here
that she's already set up to put in with the bills to show a possibility of spreading out the payments. And they also have the if you'd like you can go ahead and pay your full bill. We'd appreciate that but if you can't she has an option that we've kind of
used in the past about 10 years ago when we had our metering errors and uh so we were forced to do that but it's worked in the past and I'm sure will work just fine and Josyn does an excellent job with her and her staff as far as keeping track of all those numbers which is
excellent. Okay, commissioners. Do we have um any questions? I mean, you've got it in front of you. You're saying um Dave, if you'll just talk a little bit about >> Okay. January's gas bill, you're saying
here it's going up um from what would normally be in December 24,000 to 74,000 >> possibly, triple, >> possibly higher, but the estimated bill was just under 75,000. I was hoping I would get the final numbers today, but
when I told them that we were having a special meeting, they kind of laughed. They go, I don't think we can have the numbers to you that fast because their phones just won't stop rating from everybody, all the gas systems. But um hopefully by the end of today, we will have solid numbers. >> Okay,
>> that's what they told. >> Um yes, thank you, mayor. So, uh I sent a question to the city manager yesterday. I don't know if he saw it. Um my my first question is um what is the
amount of of the residential and commercial deposits that we have on the file? I'm assuming we keep deposits in the gas department. >> Yes. >> So what are those amounts? >> As far as an actual amount, I do not have that because it depends on how old
the customer is. If we have customers that have been here 50 years, they may only have a $10 deposit. Newer ones have 50 commercial be 100 to a thousand. It just depends on the commercial load. >> Okay. And I was thinking that might be the case. And when you say new, how long
ago was new? >> The $50 went in what? Maybe two years ago. 50 something like that. >> I don't think we raise the deposit. >> Excuse the mic.
If you want the amount that's on each account or you want >> No, I just wanted to know generally and I know I sent this yesterday. I just wanted to know generally because I'm just trying to give a sense for us of what we have in deposits versus the
amount that we're going to let people pay over time. >> Correct. >> Just to give us an idea that involves how many months that you're going to allow them to pay it. >> Right. to say your name. >> I'm sorry. Berry uh utility billing
director. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we we don't know ex I mean do you have do you happen to know what the total do we have a total for all the deposits that are on file might be strange? >> Yes, I can have a report show us that.
Okay. >> Should have a budget line. Yeah. And Steve with finance may be able to give us that who they're in their own account. So I mean I'm not saying we don't have it now. >> Before they do that exercise
a second before they do that and go through that exercise of pulling that for you. Um is there is there something that you're hoping to achieve by that? >> Right. That's what I just said. I said at this point I think it's a little too late. But what I was trying to get a
sense of is what is the ratio or the proportion of the deposits we have on file versus the amounts that we're going to let people um pay over time because that kind of creates exposure for us. In other words,
if somebody has a $40 overage and they're going to pay it over three or four months, um you know, there's some there's some risk there's a benefit for them and that's good. there's a little bit of risk to us because over over any
given month people are closing out different accounts. So it's possible that we could say we can pay this over time and some people might not pay they might move or whatever closer gas account. So the only recovery we would
have at that point um would be the deposit. So that was why I was wondering. >> Okay. So we know the deposit the maximum amount of deposit is $50. Correct? >> So it's on a property owner. It depends on if they're rental or property owner.
Rental would have a $100 gas deposit. >> Okay. >> Versus 50. >> And also if they don't pay and they still are a customer at that point. >> Oh then it's >> right for people who remain customers need it.
>> Right. We're pretty much covered. Um, as we know, collections is not very effective. And then, mayor, I had one um had one more question that I thought of, but this um this goes to um Mr. Frank's comments about people not
reading their bills. Um we don't have this at our house, but I've heard other people say that they have their bills on automatic payment from the bank. Um, so I'm wondering is there a way we
can give people a heads up um if particularly if they're on autopay to make sure um that their bank account isn't impacted. I've heard people say, "Oh, I don't look at my bill, you know, the bank just pays it." >> Miss Barry can address that. She's on
top of that already. So you guys, um, I usually look at them before I process the automatic payments. And with this bill coming in, I will definitely be calling folks. >> Okay. >> That's not fair to them. I can take them off of the automatic pay until they do
their payments or they may want to just pay it. >> So, it just depends on the information I get at hand. >> Okay. So, the logistics of our system let you be proactive and >> correct intervene. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. That's good to know
because that that could be quite a surprise. Thank you. >> It takes a little work, but it all works out. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Anybody else have some questions? >> Need a motion to
>> Well, we need So, what we've got here, so let's kind of go through this this real fast. We've got um what Miss Barry is going to do. The bill should be going out tomorrow. That's why we had to call this meeting today and not by the time
after on the back side of them receiving them their bill. >> As long as we get that rate, >> as long as they get the rate today, it's it should go out tomorrow. Uh talking to Miss Barry, she can do um in that
information area, she can put something in there. You're going to put some verbiage in there. >> Already done. >> He's already done. Okay. that basically brings to their attention. Um because what's going to happen is even if they don't use any additional gas than what
they normally use, their bill is going to be significantly higher. So there's going to be a lot of um a lot of questions, a lot of concern. Um want to make sure they do that. And then we're going to put this this letter. And so everybody needs to go through the letter
and make sure that you're you know that you're okay with this letter. It was sent out to you earlier. there's some additional information. Um I I asked him to explain to them basically what a therm is because you know for the general population does not understand what a therm is.
>> So just to add that in there and then the payment options also that will be on the back side of this. So it will go in the bill not a separate mailer just to um because of the cost of how much it is to mail to all the >> correct and it'll be double-sided.
So, so what we're going to have to do is and then also in talking about this, we need to to discuss because um this bill that they're going to get now as well as February's bill and possibly March's bill because we really don't know what's going to happen with the weather as we
go forward. Um how are you how are you proposing that we spread that out because everything needs to be paid by the end of the fiscal year. So, do you want to kind of go run us through that before we make a motion as to, you
know, do we do it out three months? Do we do it out four months? How do we do that? And what do we do with the following bill as it comes forward? >> I believe it should go by the size of the bill. Okay. >> To be honest, I mean, if you only have $20 more, then okay, we'll give you
another month to pay that pay half of it now and half of it next month. But if it's a $2,000 bill, they may want four months, they may want six months. Um, it all depends on what
y'all want to allow for us to be able to do to stretch that out for them. >> And and if if that's the case, mayor, we can change this to plans available and up to four months if that's >> what you all decide. >> Okay. And mayor, I have a question.
Yes, thank you. Um, and I really, this might be a question for Mr. Frank. So, um, what is going to affect the amount of our our gas cost is it's not just going to be cold weather usage here. for
example, um you know, the weather here may start warming up um midFebruary and we all as customers, we may not be using particularly a lot of gas, although um
there's some great recommendations for how to conserve in here. Thank you. But what's really going to affect the cost, as I understand it, so I'm just asking you, what's going to affect the cost of the gas that we use just to heat the hot
water to wash dishes is going to be how long cold weather lasts northwest. Is that right? And that's truly what we have no control over. >> It's the weather pattern in whole. But the problem is it's the supply and demand is what's jacking it up. Right? I
mean, even if you had the same gas consumption as you used last month on this month's bill, it's significantly going to be higher because you're paying more. It's like when you go to the gas station, it was $3 a gallon last week, but this month, hey, it's $5. Your car
is getting the same gas mileage, but the cost of the gasoline went up, >> right? But I guess what I'm trying to get at is and that um those of us who live here may not have good sense of and the mayor kind of alluded to this when she said that everything needs to be
paid by the end of the fiscal year for I guess um I don't know what we could do about that. So punksatonyi Phil up in New York I think said >> Pennsylvania because let's always depend on protocol
right so anyway the the u folk prediction is for six more months of winter weeks and is it weeks >> the point being it can stay cold north of us in the upper south the Midwest
west, the north, wherever, it can stay cold through April or May and we have no control over that. >> So my understanding is as long as there is significant demand in the rest of the country, >> it's going to
we will be paying just me just to wash those little dishes in the sink. >> I will be potentially paying more and we don't know how long that's going to last. >> That is correct. And that's what the gas system itself, not our system, but the
main pipelines far transmission and all the northern groups, they're very worried about this because they're going to get another arctic blast this weekend with wind chills like 15 below zero. >> So, it will affect the load, it will affect the price. Um, but it's out of
our control right now. >> Right. And I understand that and I just um I wasn't really thinking about that when I read the draft letter. >> Understand? >> Um so I think it's important that we make sure that Crescent City, Florida
gas customers understand that we will be bearing the impact of weather north of here for an undetermined length of time. >> Want to add another bullet? Do you want to add another bullet here? whatever. And you know, I think we're we're
getting off the beaten path and we're talking about what may happen >> and and basically it's winter. Okay. >> Um it has been a really cold week here in Florida. >> It has >> and um we might be getting into what's normally would be cold in Florida, a
normal type temperature coming moving forward. >> The next 10 days look like that. >> Yes. Yeah. So, I mean, um, what they're doing up in Vermont, I know. I watch it every day. Okay. It's cold up there. It's - 18 here today. >> That's not cold. That's fridge.
>> Yeah. Get all the wind chills - 40. That's normal weather for them though during this time, right? >> And and so we can't we can't look at all of that. Okay. Um, now if I'm in the Carolinas, >> but but uh but I think we're going to
get back into our normal kind of mode down here. >> That's what they're predicting. Okay. So, I mean, I don't want to get to the point where you're frantic over something that just may not happen or you start making plans for things that just may not happen. >> Mayor, if I could Yes. >> Just um that's kind of the opposite of
what Mr. Frank is telling us and I'm trying to get a handle on being realistic about how long we are going to be paying having double or triple gas bills because we're about to tell people they can have a payment plan for high
bills and um we need to be prepared for how long we may be offering that payment plan or maybe we won't you know whatever we don't know but just because we're not cold here doesn't mean that the gas bills will not be high. Mr. Frank is
saying that's out of our control. >> Our our consumptions will decrease because it's warming up or as you could say a normal winter for us, but the cost of the gas. It will be dropping some. It already is, but it's not going to drop to the rate that we were last month.
>> Well, I would suspect that, but you know, let's not think it's going to continue to be as high as it >> definitely. No, no. And and the other issue we have is there are some of our customers are see Cory just got done reading here about a week ago. Okay. Well, that last customer, that last group of customers
he reads will really be affected by this January cost. But what about the customers he read the first of the month? They're not really going to see this gas load until their Jan or the February billing, which will be in
March. Because the way we read, if you look at a 30-day calendar versus a 30-day calendar, they overlap the way we read because we're so spread out. So, it will affect some of those customers cost into the February bill. Even if things
go back to normal in February, they're still going to get high bills in February because a lot of the gas are being buil for was actually used in January. >> Well, and and I understand. I hope that they understand that too. I mean, >> yeah, that's problem. a lot of them and they don't >> you know that's what we need to kind of
focus on. >> I think if you were just to add something another another bullet to it that basically says extreme weather conditions across the country um has affected the overall natural gas supply. >> Yes. >> Something to that effect that basically
is everyone. Yes. which which in which affects the price. >> Sure. >> And and one of the problems too was the a lot of the gas is there. It just couldn't get shot down the pipeline because you have what's called a compressor station which is about every
10020 miles. It's like your heart your heart beats. It pushes the blood. The compressor stations rep reressurize the gas to keep moving it down the pipeline. They actually some of them in Texas froze up. So we went static for a couple
days. So >> pipeline still have gas. >> So basically if you've looked at the letter if there's any changes that you would like to make I think what you're saying is that you could offer up to a four month a fourmon payment plan and
this will be based on an individual basis. Correct? We're just not across the board approving a fourmon spread that this will be on based on an individual basis. You've instructed them that they want a payment plan that please to contact you. Is that correct?
>> Correct. >> Okay. >> And they can be offered for 12 months. It's not specific to what >> I mean you can go one month. >> Well, it's going to go this one's going to go four months. The next one might go four months. So, you might end up with a 12 month. >> I think by the time the prices regulate
too, even if you went all the way as far as May, that still gets you in our fiscal year to pay. And that's what I think our goal is. >> I think the biggest thing is that there's going to be a hardship um that our res that our customers are going to to have and if we can alleviate that or
help them in any way get through that hardship. That's why we're here today to be proactive and being able to do so. >> But the only downfall of that is do we want this to drag out past August? Yeah. because we want it to be we want
everything to be zeroed out by yes end of September because we don't want to go into October in the next month >> correct >> so we'll leave that up to Joselyn also to make sure that that as you're working with these customers and it shouldn't because even if you go to April and you
do four months out from April you still should be okay. Yes, Commissioner Devita. Um, I have a motion, >> but my main question is, so for how many months would we want to authorize um,
Crescent City Natural Gas and Building Utilities Department to extend those payment plans? In other words, not the length of payment plan, but for example, um, one month would cover the January bill, two months would cover the
February bill. Correct? I think >> we want to also um make it available for the March bill or reconsider that. >> I would my recommendation is that they come back and report to us.
>> So in other words, if we um offer payment plans for both the January bill and the February bill, we would have plenty of time to get a report >> and then um revisit that. And we revisit it at the March um no probably the April
I guess the April meeting. >> Is that correct? So we revisit that at the April meeting unless you feel that something comes up and does sooner. I think the March is that's only a month out. I don't know if you'll >> right. And then the February bills are
not due March 22nd. So we were looking at it that way like April. So, April. Okay. >> And when you put this in, you know, just to let people make sure they know that this is in here. I know it's a bolded, you know, payment plan available. How to
apply optional. Make it in a little bigger print. >> Okay. >> Make it so it's like a wow like here we've got these things for you so people will pick it out. >> Just you put the phone number down there. I know it says the phone number's on top of just here again. Yeah. just
because you need to have as many places so people don't have to look around >> and I asked if they could put it in color but unfortunately they can't do it in color so it will have to be in black and white but it would be bold and then additionally something else before you
do your motion additionally something else we need to think about um and and ask staff I know this is a hardship on our staff as well it's a burden on them but we have some pretty um some of Our commercial accounts have some pretty
significant usage and this could possibly triple theirs and we're talking in the thousands and so I guess to be proactive with them. Would you go ahead and give them a call? I mean what is it? Do you have any recommendation on that? >> Yeah, we'd either go down there or call
them to make sure they're aware of what's coming. Just like we're going to look at the automatic payment because you don't want to snag $2,000 from anybody's account without their knowledge, especially when it runs $300 usually, you know. So, yeah, we would go
down there. Hopefully, we can post the letters in like WindC on the on their board or the map where people usually go, they can read it. So, >> we're going to utilize the city ticker on the website. So, the ticker page will have that. We'll also have it on announcements as well. We'll put this on
our Facebook page. >> We'll get it out there. >> And we have do we have the availability to email? We have emails the people that have signed up for emails. We can get this out on that as well. Correct. >> Okay. >> Another option too. We may want to try
um I don't know the the call signs. It's the AM radio in Palaca. They do a lot of their county information. if if they will do a a note for us, you know, attention public or whatever because it's also going to lack the gas. They
have the same issues. But just to put a warning to natural gas customers, you know, expect higher than usual buildings. >> Have you spoken to anybody in your lab to find out how they're feeling with >> I can today. I'll call I'll call. >> Yeah. Before I think before you go on
radio. >> Yeah. Um, mayor, I was just going to say in a way I see the benefit of going on the radio, but I also see the possibility of panic. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, I would hate It's a great suggestion.
>> I would hate for people to go into the panic mode. >> That's a great suggestion, but I think right now it's >> Yeah. I wish our marquee was up and running out here because it' be great to have a marquee. >> Yeah. But um >> I think we've done everything we can when you put it in the bill, when you've
made phone calls, when you put it in the email and when you're posting it on on boards around. I know Ace Hardware also has a board. You can post it on Ace Hardware's board. >> Sure. >> Um so yeah, so I think we and the library also we can post it at the library board as well. So, I think just
getting it out there and and making them aware your staff, um, Miss Barry, as you know, this is going to be burdensome on your staff, but thank you and and thank the the women that work for you for for being patient and taking You're welcome. >> Um, my receptionist is making phone
calls now for people that are passed through and she's also explaining to them about the upcoming rate change. Okay. >> And it's going to be much higher. So hopefully that'll help get them passing the board as they come. >> And one other thing too is on our
customer accounts, we have 1,200 residentials, but we only have 100 commercials. And out of those 100 commercials, I would say only 35 are large. >> Those are the 35 we may use a th00and 2,000 terms. So the school's going to
have a fit. They're the biggest users in Lakewood. They may be looking at a5 or $10,000 bill. So, it's going to be high. >> Just give a heads up before that. >> Give me a heads up if
anybody have any changes to the letter before we get a motion on all of those together. Combine all of it. >> Yes, ma'am. Is there um I know you mentioned the Facebook um could you also
add this on there somewhere where I know where to go to find it? >> Facebook page. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Because a lot of people, you know, Facebook. >> Yes. I'm going to I'm going to share this as a picture JPEG to the Crescent
City that has about 18,000 followers. I'll get with her today and have her post that. I'll post that. We've been sharing. I've been every all the information we put on ours we've been putting on on on hers as well. >> So we'll get that out there. >> Well, mayor, could I just make one
comment about that responding to Commissioner Moore um about letting people know where to find this information? Um when the city manager sent out the information about the burn ban, he I think he requested us to let
people we know. Um, I think that would also apply to this letter for example. Um, if we get several copies and take them to churches, neighbors, whatever. I mean, we can certainly, you know, and
ask PE ask people we know to let people they know kind of be, you know, the human information chain. So, we can also help with that. Sure. um some language in here um where it says the payment options, you know, the
city that the city wants to assist. I think we need to soften this a little bit that in some way that the city realizes, you know, okay, >> that the city realizes this could create a hardship and we are here to assist you. Okay. So, if you could soften that a little bit
>> just for expediency, if the commission can allow at least vote on it, if I can directly work with the mayor on finalizing this so it can get out on time if that's okay. >> Sure. >> As the lead. Is that okay, Mayor? >> That's fine. >> Okay.
I move that the city manager work with mayor in order to put some finishing touches on this letter. >> I'll second it. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. I.
>> Oppos? Nay. Okay. So moved. So Commissioner Dito, you said you have a you have a motion also. >> Um I started on it. So the basic motion to authorize all this to go forward. Um, I move uh that we authorize the Crescent
City Natural Gas Department in conjunction with our bill and utility department to offer customers a payment plan for um high gas bills
for the gas bills for months of January, February, and March. That's three months. those three months for up to four months payment plan up to in the
discretion of the billing utilities department based on the size of um the bill increase because I believe that's what must very had in mind. >> Do you want to include something that it should be brought back to us at the
meeting? Um, I don't want to just in case did our clerk get all that. So, um, and I can just I had to make the run on sentence. I can say I I further move that the building utility department
report back to the commission um, in the month of I don't know, do we want a report in March to let us know how this is going? April. Okay. So, and um I further move that building and utilities department report
back to us um in the month of April um on how this um plan is going and of course if anything urgent arises they'll let us know. >> I'll second that motion.
>> Okay. So, we have a proper motion and a second. Commissioners, do we have any other comments on this? Any other discussion? I'll open it up to public comments after this. Okay, then I'm going to open it up. Do we have any public comments? I'm going
to open it up public comments. Please come forward if you have any comments. Seeing no one come forward. If this is where we are, I'm going to go ahead. Um, Miss Taylor, if you would do a roll call
for us, please. Commissioner Dvita. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Lori. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Moore. >> I. >> Commissioner Burton. >> Yes. >> P. Myers. >> I. Okay. So, this has been um motion
carries. I want to just for the record state that commissioner veto make a motion. Commissioner second the motion. finding that it would be much easier for us to do this if we go forward. I need to start there automatic system. Mayor, I did
have one comment about the letter that um I wrote earlier when it was sent to us. Could I share that this year? Okay. So, I think this is on what would be the second page. Um where it says payment
options, there's three bullets. Um says residents may pay in full if preferred. Um just you might want to add if not a hardship. Um it CCNG encourages
customers to pay in full. I don't I don't think we want to encourage people to put their bill out. So that's just a thought. And also, I just want to thank everybody who's worked on this so hard, including
the city manager and mayor. Thank you. Thank you. I I haven't I haven't done I haven't done anything. I apologize that I I came in a little late yesterday to sign everything, but I still made sure that I had it within that time frame that we needed. Um, but
I just want to thank everybody and and I also want to I I do want to say that um us being proactive. Thank you staff um for allowing us to be proactive. Anytime we can be transparent and proactive, we
need to and you're still going to get you're still going to get some people that are upset. We know that there can't please everybody. But us having the opportunity um especially as commissioners to help out our community when we can um is very important is very
important to all of us. So thank you for these recommendations. Thank you for the work you're having to put into this. Um, and I know it's your workload is already and I think commissioners I'm going to remind our commissioners as well that everyone's workload right now is um is
is maxed and so um we just we just need to be mindful of that. I know in the public works um we're down a few and um you know I know in our natural gas we're down a few and um with Barry I know that
y'all are got your hands full too. So and Steve also in our finance department we're down there too. So, we're and and and and thank you to Miss Taylor and also to Miss Martin for just making sure that
the wheels keep turning and as long as we can keep the wheels turning, we need to. Yes, Commissioner Dia. >> Um, Mayor, I absolutely agree with your statement about being proactive. I think that's great and we can provide good customer service. One question I have
and maybe a suggestion is um Miss Barry was I think there's a different flyer that you're going to send out in the gas bills or is the flyer we have in our cabinet or the whole thing? >> It'll be a front and back. That's it. Okay. So, there's no there's no other
flyer. Okay. And then so I'll just share with Miss Martin and the mayor. Um, I know the letter already looks good and the main thing is cuz I remember the um the infamous mis red bills of 10 years
ago and um the letter that first went out Mr. Martin you weren't here but the letter that first went out it made sense to the people who wrote it but it did not make sense to the people who received it and you know that happens to us all when you email or or write a
letter. So I know y'all will take care of that. So thank you. >> That's why I asked them to include definitions on third so they have a better understanding. >> Absolutely. We'll talk about >> great. Do we have any other business? Any other business that we have today?
>> Anybody have anything? >> Commissioner Moore, you're headed to Jacksonville. Thank you for going through that. Go for her training. >> It's a lot. >> Thank you. It's a lot. Just don't >> we expect a full report. We expect a
full report when you get back on um everything that you know >> and ask questions. >> If you have questions, ask them. >> Make sure if you have a good notebook. >> Yes. >> If they have handouts, can you bring them back?
>> Okay. Sure. >> Handouts, please. And also, I want to thank we had um three of our commissioners that went to Tallahassee last week. Um, thank you the three of you. I know you pounded those those hallways those hallways and it was the
bitter cold. I was supposed to go. Unfortunately, I had a >> Well, you chickened out. You didn't >> I had a family I had a family we had a family issue and I was unable. >> You're right. The new capital the old capital is the windiest coldest place. >> I warned you that is the cold coldest place.
>> We got we got in through the house office building but I had to leave and went out front and I mean >> it's awesome. We followed BJ one one morning to get into the capital and of course you know with all these he's got to have the special ramps and everything. It seems like every single
ramp there is there it's down this little corridor you know it's all blocked. >> It's like a wind tunnel. I don't know how he manages to do that all week long. You know I mean it really is very very cold. I said well I'm not doing this again.
Well, thank you all for looking out for basically those issues that are near and dear to all municipalities across the state and our municipality as well. Um, your representation there I know was was noticed and very needed. So, thank you
all for doing that. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> I move we second. We have a proper motion by Commissioner Lori and a second by Commissioner Dita. All in favor, please say I. >> I. I and meeting adjourned at 10:52.
Thank you all for being >> the owl. Is it off? >> It's still lit up. And I just noticed on some of our videos that it's videoing us ahead of time >> in our m and