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Minutes - 10/04/2011MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 4TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2011, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 51PM. The Council met in a workshop and regular session with the following: COLINCILMEMBERS PRESENT. J. Turner, Mac Woodward, Jack Wagamon, James Fitch, Lydia Montgomery, Keith D. Olson, Tom Cole, Wayne Barrett, Don H. Johnson OFFICERS PRESENT: Bill Saine. City Manager. Leonard Schneider, City Attorney. Lee Woodward. City Secretary WORKSHOP SESSION [5:001PM] — Council will receive and discuss an update on the progress of the Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee. [Councilmember Wagamon was not present for the workshop.] Councilmember Barrett presented a short overview, stressing first the need for the proper selection of a directors position, also discussing potential partners and funding (for representation in proportion to investment). The Mayor said the committee would like to bring a resolution of support to the next Council meeting, hoping in the meantime to complete share drafts with the Council, along with a draft job description for a director. The Council established the recommendation was for a non-profit rather than a City department. The Mayor expressed the need of being properly capitalized. Councilmember Johnson echoed the importance of success and agreement and understanding of all Councilmembers as the project progressed. He said they had named three other partners, SHSU, HMH, and Walker County, to participate in the so-called Community Enterprise Board. The Mayor said they envisioned half of investment spent on hard assets like land (that were collectively owned and could not be distributed) and hall on soft costs like a director, advertising, and staff. He said they hoped that, within five years, the proceeds from the assets could cover the soft costs. Councilmember Olson had a number of questions about taxes on assets, ownership, etc., which the group said were concerns being considered. The Mayor confirmed the governing board would be elected proportionally by the investing parties, and not composed of elected officials, but that these details were still being discussed, to prevent City personnel would not be committed in addition to investment. He did note the City may be asked for incentives. Councilmember Cole said the City Manager was already doing economic development, that prior development staff at the City had been secretive, and expressed concerns about control among participating entities. He urged caution. The Mayor stressed again the importance of proper staff and funding, noting that the City Manager had somewhere to focus his attention already and that earlier inside positions had utilized underprepared inside staff. Councilmember Johnson said he believed there was interest in the community, that the Council had seemed to be in agreement about the work the ad hoc committee had committed itself to over the past months, and that what's good for the entities was good for all of Huntsville. Councilmember Fitch expressed concern that there be discussion of the details including staff location, utility payment issues, etc. The Mayor said there would ultimately be an Ordinance brought to Council including all these details. 0 REGULAR SESSION* [6:00PM] 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Turner called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. 2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES — Councilmember Barren gave the invocation. 3. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS a. Zachary Baker Day b. Domestic Violence Awareness Month c. Fire Prevention Month d. Employee Recognition City Manager Bill Baine recognized Carlos Ross, a front-end loader driver, Jason Sanders, a code enforcement officer, for their long service and devoted efforts. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. S. CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of Consent Agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item in accordance with staff recommendations An item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory Agenda for full discussion by request of a member of Council.) a. Approve the minutes of the City Council Regular Session hold an September 20, 2011. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] b. Adopt Resolution 2012-01 designating The Huntsville Item as the official newspaper for the City of Huntsville for FY20IG-1 I (annual item). [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] [The City Secretary noted the agenda item contained the incorrect year and that the City Attorney had been consulted and fell the small error would not prevent the item from being handled.] Councilmember Woodward made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda and Councilmember Montgomery g2ggr do, The Mayor pronounced the mob on passed unanimously. 6. STATUTORY AGENDA 40 a. Possible action to approve Ordinance 2012-03, the proposed annexation of 72.09 acres (two tracts): Tract No. I being 24.04 acres, more or Is", situated In the WARREN BIRDSELL LEAGUE. A-6, Walker County, Texas and being out of and a part of the called 71 acre 'Second Tract" conveyed by J. H. Thomason and wife, Marguerite E. Thomason, and Mabel S. Eastham to Horace Smith and wife, Alverta Smith, by deed dated March 22,1940, recorded in Volume 94, Page 190, Walker County Deed Records. Tract No. 2 being 48.05 acres, more or less, situated in the, WARREN BIRDSELL LEAGUE, A-6, Walker County, Texas, and being out of and a part of a called 219 acre "First Tract" and a called 71 acre "Second Tract", conveyed by J. H. Thomason and wife, Marguerite E. Thomason, and Mabel S. Eastham to Horace Smith and wife, Alverta Smith, by deed dated Mare 22,1940, recorded in Volume 94, Page 190, Walker County Deed Records. 1st reading. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works] There was no action taken as this was a first reading. 7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER REPORT a. Discussion of water policy issues. [Standing item on first agenda of each month.] Carol Reed, Director of Public Utilities, noted the "excellent response" of citizens to the water rationing, including a drop to just over 9 million gallons per day usage. She said this met one of the criteria to end Stage 2 water restriction criteria but that the city was still in severe drought and so she had recommended to the City Manager that the restrictions not be lifted at this time. b. Possible action to approve Ordinance 2011 -58 to increase the membership of Youth Advisory Board, 2"d reading. [Mayor Turner] The Mayor made a motion to approve Ordinance 2011-58 and was seconded by Councilmember Cole The Mayor prronounced the motion passed unanimously. c. Possible action to approve nominations of Alfyah Houston, Lane Molitor, and Brenda Grahmann to the Youth Advisory Board. [Mayor Turner] The Mayor made a motion to approve the above nominations and was seconded by Councilmember Barrett The Mayor pronounced the motion passed unanimously. d. City Manager's Report 1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development. Mr. Baine spoke of the City's unfunded insurance liability, noting the increase in funding levels over the last three years. He discussed the six homes being built for owner - occupied dwellings which had been unfit to live in, and said the City hoped to do a dozen more. Dr. Sherry Mcl(ibben, he noted, will start the application period at the end of the month. Mr. Baine said the library expansion was continuing with the move of the shelves to the new portion of the library to allow for renovation in the old areas. He said the bathrooms and concession stands for hate Barr Ross Park had been ordered and that the splashpad was a little behind schedule. He said there was construction at the airport, including water, sewer, and fiber lines. Mr. Baine said the City had received notification of a COPS grant for two additional officers. He said TxDOT was moving ahead with sidewalks and the Town Creek engineering was continuing. He said the replacement water well would begin to be installed in March and take about a year to complete. Mr. Baine said he had instructed the staff to buy an additional solid waste truck and would come to Council when bids were received, to speed up trash collection. Mr. Baine said wildfire mitigation continued, especially brush clearance and the need for fire equipment that can be better utilized in wildfires, and had made an early allocation of $50,000. He said the City would also be asking private landowners for easements for the City to clear. He also discussed TxDOT's work on the 1- 45/Hwy. 75 interchange. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no additional public comments. 9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA There were no media inquiries. 10. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (Hear announcements concerning items of community interest from the Mayor, Councilmernbers, and City staff for which no action will be discussed or taken.) a. The Music in the Park free live music series will continue most Thursday evenings from 6.8pm at parks around town through November 17, call 936- 291 -9716 or check the City website for more information. The Mayor also announced the Good Ole Boys Hunt Club would be coming through Huntsville around 10am on October 13, taking veterans on a hunt, encouraging the public to go out to the mall and welcome the participants. 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section 551.074 - personnel matters regarding the evaluation of City Manager Bill Baine. [Mayor Turner] The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 6:54pm. The Mayor said he did not expect any actions that evening. Councilmember Wagamon left the meeting. 12. RECONVENE a. Take action on Executive Session item, as needed. The Council reconvened at 8:25pm. 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:25pm.