Minutes - 08/02/2016
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 2 DAY OF AUGUST 2016, IN THE
CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 6:00 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Andy Brauninger, Paul Davidhizar, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson Ronald Allen, Joe
P. Rodriquez, Tish Humphrey
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Keith Olson, Joe Emmett
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
WORK SESSIONS \[4:30 P.M.\] – City Council will discuss a potential bond election for the November 8, 2016 ballot.
City Manager Matt Benoit presented ballot proposition options for the proposed November bond election.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 p.m.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one, and indivisible.
Mayor Brauninger gave an invocation and Brianna McNeil from the YMCA, led the pledges.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
Public Comments will be called for by the presiding officer before action is taken on these items. (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 meeting held on July 19, 2016 and the special session held on July 26,
2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Approve the 2016 Joint Election Agreement and Election Services Contract with Walker County for the November
8, 2016 election. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
c. Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the necessary documents to abandon the existing
easements and to modify the shared access easement on Lot 1 of the Huntsville Fire Station #2 Subdivision in
the John W. Adams Survey (A-62), located at 2109 and 2257 Sam Houston Avenue. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion was unanimously adopted, 7-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve announcing the City Council’s
intention to adopt a maximum property tax rate of $0.3809 per $100 valuation for the City’s 2016 – 2017 Fiscal
Year (Tax Year 2016). \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Rodriquez moved to approve announcing the City Council’s intention to adopt a maximum property tax
rate of $0.3809 per $100 valuation for the City’s 2016 – 2017 Fiscal Year (Tax Year 2016). The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Allen. The motion was adopted, 7-0.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve the Mayor’s nominations for City
boards, committees, and commissions. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved his nomination for City boards, committees, and commissions. Councilmember Allen moved to
divide the question by committee and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was adopted
unanimously, 7-0. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the nominations for the Arts Commission and was
seconded by Councilmembers Montgomery and Davidhizar. The motion was approved unanimously, 7-0. Councilmember
Humphrey moved to approve the nomination for the Board of Adjustments and Appeals and was seconded by
Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved unanimously, 7-0. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve
the nomination for the Huntsville Housing Authority and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was
approved unanimously, 7-0. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the nomination for the Planning Commission
and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved, 6-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the nominations for the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory
Board and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved unanimously, 7-0. Councilmember
Humphrey moved to approve the nomination for the Walker County Public Safety Communications Center Executive
Board and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved, 6-1, Councilmember Allen voting
against. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the nominations for the Board of Adjustments - Zoning and was
seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved unanimously, 7-0.
Nominations approved were:
Arts Commission - Betsy Milligan-Maloney – reapplication; Michael Henderson – reapplication
Board of Adjustments & Appeals - Joe Soliz – reapplication
Huntsville Housing Authority - Debra Daugette – reapplication
Planning Commission - Bill Barry – reapplication
Veterans Affairs Board - Wayne Keen – reapplication; Leta Reiner – reapplication; John McManners – reapplication;
Shane Loosier – application
Walker County Public Safety Communications Center Executive Board (911/dispatch) - Matt Benoit
Board of Adjustments – Zoning (ZBA) - Anthony Watkins – reapplication; David Zuniga - reapplication
6. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
An opportunity for citizens to be heard on any topic and for the City Council to participate in the discussion. No
action will be taken.
Consideration and discussion on a Citizen Participation Request from Mac Woodward concerning a request from the
Rita B. Huff for a waiver of permit and inspection fees for construction of a cover over the outside kennels.
Mac Woodward pulled this item from Council consideration.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
8. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
(Hear announcements concerning items of community interest from the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff for
which no action will be discussed or taken.)
Councilmember Humphrey gave an HISD Minute, notifying all for the new HornetNation.org website to debut soon for all
Hornet athletics. She also reminded everyone to buy a Hornet flag by August 18. Councilmember Humphrey also had an Alpha
Omega Academy Second, noting they would start back to class on August 17.
Mayor Brauninger announced the following:
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Join us at the Wynne Home on Saturday from 4-7 for their second annual luau! There will be lots of fun activities for all!
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Then plan to continue the fun next week at the Statue on August 9-11 for their Back to School Bash, each day from 2-4.
Visit www.huntsvilletexas.com for a full schedule including the City’s Fire and Police Depts., the Mayor, and more!
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There will be a community-wide Unity event on Sunday, August 7 at 9 am. Citizens and law enforcement officers from all
areas of Huntsville will gather at the Courthouse and walk to Emancipation Park for a barbecue and social. Contact
Deborah DuBose at 936-662-9643 for more information.
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The Town Square Business Owners are holding a block party next Tuesday, August 9, from 5-7 p.m. Check out what’s
new and revisit all your favorites around the Square!
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One-way traffic and signs for new paid parking spaces have been installed along Bobby K. Marks Drive and Bearkat
Boulevard. We need everyone’s help in getting used to this new system, so please pay attention and remind returning
students & faculty you may talk to. The parking spaces are open and the payment system is in testing mode at the
moment, expected to go live in the next week or two. Call 291-5419 for more information.
Councilmember Humphrey introduced a video from last Friday’s social media platforms, covering the IT Department’s rescue
of ten tiny ducklings who fell into a stormwater grate at City Hall.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 6:18 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary