RESO 2012-04 - Main Street GrantRESOLUTION NO. 2012-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS,
AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS CAPITAL FUND
MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACT
AS THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN ALL
MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN MAIN STREET GRANT
PROGRAM.
WHEREAS The City desires to develop a viable urban community, including decent housing
and a suitable living environment and expanding the economic opportunities,;
and
WHEREAS The Main Street Program has been an important and valuable part of the
revitalization of downtown for 10 years; and
WHEREAS The City has been involved with improvement activities for over 20 years in the
downtown area; and
WHEREAS Conditions exist which represent a threat to public health and safety; and
WHEREAS it is necessary and in the best interests of Huntsville to avail itself of the Texas
Capital Fund Main Street Improvement Program;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Huntsville, Texas, that:
SECTION 1: The City Council has reviewed and hereby approves an application for:
Grant- $150,000
Match- $ 45,248
Total Project Budget $195,248
SECTION 2: The City Council has reviewed and hereby agrees to comply with all assurances
executed in connection with the application and, if funded the award.
SECTION 3; The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to act on the City's behalf in
all matters pertaining to this application.
SECTION 4: The City Council has reviewed and hereby agrees not to participate in program
income recapture and will return all program income to the State to be placed in
a statewide Revolving Loan Fund to be used by the State to fund future economic
development awards. By agreeing to this measure, the City understands that it
will be eligible to receive as many Texas Capital Fund awards per program year
as it has eligible projects.
SECTION 5: Pursuant to the requirements of the Texas Capital Fund Main Street
Improvement Program, the City finds:
A. Description of Main Street area and boundary
The locations within the Main Street area identified by City Council as blighted include the
sidewalks along the southwest and southeast sides of University Avenue between 12th Street and
13th Street, the intersection of 13th Street and University Avenue and the sidewalks along 13th
Street between Sam Houston Avenue and Rather Park.
B. Description of conditions contributing to the slum and /or blight condition
Beginning at mid -block of West University Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street, the brick
paver sidewalk ends with a drop -off into a parking lot where several business owners park and
walk to their stores. The area in the front of the parking lot should have a sidewalk, but currently
that is undefined. Pedestrians are unsure if it is safe to walk there because of the unleveled areas
and cracks where a sidewalk should be located. In the same area on the East side of University
Avenue, the existing sidewalk is unleveled and does not allow for handicap accessibility. The
sidewalk wraps around Rather Park, and as a result of unleveled sidewalks and steps, many
people have fallen trying to access the park.
Continuing south on University, the bank parking lot also suffers from the same lack of definition
of a sidewalk. More cracks and unleveled areas are present and lead to the first true sidewalk in
front of 1224 University Avenue. In an effort to conceal some of the blight areas, concrete was
cut and removed to make way for trees and landscaping. Although this made the area look
better, it still is not safe to walk on because of the many cracks and unleveled path.
The intersections at the corner of University and 13th Street are very uneven and have a steep
incline with no ADA accessibility. This makes it nearly impossible for a handicapped individual to
access the sidewalks. The curb on the West side has been run over and damaged by vehicles
cutting the corner too close. This area needs a stop sign to be added so that it can become a 4-
way stop and decrease the amount of accidents that occur at this intersection. The area also
needs to have streetlamps so that pedestrians feel safe about walking in this area and crossing
the intersection in the evening. The park across the street is an ideal place for evening
entertainment, but all of the areas around it are poorly lit, and has the same sidewalk and
intersection problems as the west side.
On the southwest side of 13th Street, the current sidewalk has a steep incline, cracks and is very
uneven. The sidewalk also needs to be widened to be in ADA compliance. A driveway from the
bank building serves as the end of the sidewalk and a parking lot with no curbs or defined
driveways begins at this point. Cars drive in and out everywhere because there is no sidewalk or
curbs that break it apart from the street. This creates a dangerous place for pedestrian traffic
because they do not know where the vehicles may or may not enter /exit the parking lot. On the
southeast side of 13th Street, the sidewalk is uneven and also needs to be in ADA compliance.
Leveling this sidewalk and removing the stairs near the intersection will allow for an ADA
accessible ramp to be added. SH 75 /Sam Houston has no accessible ramp and the sidewalk is in
very poor shape due to cars driving over the pavement and no defined walkway. This is one of
the major roadways in Huntsville and it is extremely dangerous for the public to not have
adequate sidewalks.
C. How will the proposed improvements contribute to eliminating these conditions
The proposed improvements will contribute to eliminating the blighted conditions in this area in
several ways. Improving the sidewalk on the west side of University Avenue between 12th and
13th Street will visually make the area look better, but more importantly, will create a safe
walking path for pedestrians in downtown. The uneven and cracked areas will be addressed with
a concrete sub slab and then a paver overlay that would be virtually maintenance free. All ADA
issues will be in compliance after these corrections.
Improving the area at the intersection of 13th Street and University Avenue with curb extensions
will create an ADA compliant ramp thereby allowing for better mobility for all pedestrians and
providing crucial access for disabled persons. A ramp does not exist on either side of this
intersection and disabled persons are not able to use the existing sidewalk, creating a safety risk.
This will physically improve the appearance of both corners while making it safer for pedestrians
and motorists. At this time, only parallel parking exists on this area of University Avenue. The
curb extensions will allow the City to restripe these parking areas to have additional diagonal
parking spaces on the east side of University Avenue.
The area along 13th Street to the intersection of SH 75 /Sam Houston Avenue will have a proper
incline that is complaint with ADA regulations. Pedestrians will have a wider sidewalk and gentler
slope to walk on. Clearly defining the sidewalk and adding curbs to the Donut Wheel parking lot
will eliminate the number of accidents that occur at that intersection because there is no proper
entrance or exit from the parking lot to the street. After consulting with the business owners,
there will be one entry /exit point on each side of the parking lot to improve the flow of motorists
to and from the parking lot.
The intersection of 13th Street and SH 75 /Sam Houston Avenue will also have more definition of
the area allotted for pedestrian traffic. There are currently no ADA ramps on this corner and an
addition of a ramp on the west and south side of the corner would allow for accessibility. This
improvement along with pavers and curb enhancements will make this unsafe and unsightly
intersection functional and pedestrian friendly.
SECTION 6: The City commits itself, if funded, to appropriate $45,248 as matching funds and
as a demonstration of its local support to the sidewalk project.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 6th day of December 2011.
ATTEST:
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THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
Mac Woodward, Ma or
APPRO D AS TO FORM:
• !a d Schneider, City Attorney
City Council Meeting Agenda Item
Item Title:
Main Street Sidewalk Repair Revision
Requested By:
Sherry McKibben
Dept. /Div:
839
Date:
12/6/2011
Dept. Approval:
Agenda Item No.:
It
Finance approval:
Issue /Item Description:
Approve Resolution 2012 -04, a revision of Resolution 2011 -20 for the Texas Capital Fund Main
Street Improvement Program, due to additional requirements for verbiage inclusion by the
grantor.
Background:
The Council approved the application to the Texas Capital Fund Main Street Improvement
Program on September 20, 2011 with Resolution 2011 -20. The State is now asking for
additional information be included in the resolution from Council.
Facts to Consider:
• The City scored #2 on the list of applicants, which places the City in the funding list
• The additions to the Resolution are parts of the application that discuss the blighted
conditions of the sidewalk in the targeted area.
• The State will fund $150,000.00 of the $195,248.00 project.
Fiscal Impact /Funding Source(s):
None
Attachment(s):
• Original Resolution 2011 -20
• Original Agenda Item Cover Sheet
• Revised Resolution 2012 -04
Recommendation motion(s):
Approve Resolution 2012 -04, a revision of Resolution 2011 -20 for the Texas Capital Fund Main
Street Improvement Program, due to additional requirements for verbiage inclusion by the
grantor.
MOTION:
• PRESENTED
• TABLED
SECOND: VOTE:
APPROVED DECLINED ACTION
OTHER
RESOLUTION NO. 2011-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION
FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE TEXAS CAPITAL FUND MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM; AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACT AS THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN MAIN STREET GRANT
PROGRAM.
WHEREAS the City desires to develop a viable urban community, including decent housing and a suitable living
environment and expanding the economic opportunities; and
WHEREAS the Main Street Program has been an important and valuable part of the revitalization of downtown
for 10 years; and
WHEREAS the City has been involved with improvement activities for over 20 years in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS conditions exist which represent a threat to public health and safety; and
WHEREAS it is necessary and in the best interests of Huntsville to avail itself of the Texas Capital Fund Main
Street Improvement Program;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Huntsville, Texas, that:
SECTION 1: The City Council has reviewed and hereby approves an application for:
Grant- $150,000
Match- $ 45.248
Total Project Budget $195,248
SECTION 2: The City Council has reviewed and hereby agrees to comply with all assurances executed in
connection with the application and, if funded the award.
SECTION 3; The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to act on the city's behalf in all matters
pertaining to this application.
SECTION 4: The City Council has reviewed and hereby agrees not to participate in program income recapture and
will return all program income to the State to be placed in a statewide Revolving Loan Fund to be
used by the State to fund future economic development awards. By agreeing to this measure, the city
understands that it will be eligible to receive as many Texas Capital Fund awards per program year
as it has eligible projects.
SECTION: The City commits itself, if funded, to appropriate $45,248 as matching funds and as a demonstration
of its local support to the sidewalk project.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 20th day of September, 2011.
CIT e HUNTSVILLE
r, Mayor
APPRO ED TO FORM:
Schneider, City Attorney
City Council Meeting Agenda �����
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Item Title:
/Main Street Sidewalk Repair
Requested
[Sherry McKibben
Date: Ag nda Item No.:
1 920/2011 |
Dept. Approval: Finance approval:
�
]
Issue/Item Description:
Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept if awarded, and implement the Texas Capital
Fund Main Street Improvement Grant for Sidewaik Improvements in the amount of
$195,248.00, and approve Resolution 2011'20 in support of same.
Background:
The City has been improving the sidewalks in the downtown area for a number of years. This
project will expand the sidewalk repairs begun on University Avenue and 13th several years ago.
Huntsville Main Street is in its 10th year of activities and the City has completed over 20 years
of downtown improvement projects.
Facts to Consider:
• The Texas Capital Fund program's Main Street Improvement grant, administered by the
Texas Department of Agriculture, funds up to $150,000 for improvements to Main Streets.
• 1096 Cash match is required, but a 30% match will result in the most points awarded
($45,248)
• Sidewalk repair ties in with Town Creek projects
• Extends downtown sidewalk toward Sam Houston State University
Fiscal I
Project cost $195,248
Match 45,248
Total Grant 150,000
Match
Cash $16,809 Acot.#814'81413'62300
In-kind Engineering $14,858
In-kind Administration $13.581
Total Match $45,248
Attachment(s):
• Resolution
Recommendation motion(s):
Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept, and implement, if awarded, the Texas Capital
Fund Main Street Improvement Grant, and approve Resolution 2011-20 in support of same.
MOTION: SECOND:
Pao
El PRESENTED tPPROVED
El TABLED
El OTHER
11
VOTE:
`37
El DE LINED ACTION