Minutes - 12/06/2016
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 6 DAY OF DECEMBER
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, Tyler McCaffety, Don H.
Johnson, Clyde D. Loll, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
PUBLIC RECEPTION \[5:00 P.M.\] – The public is invited to join the City Council in thanking Councilmembers Montgomery and
Johnson for their service and congratulating Councilmembers Paul Davidhizar, Tyler McCaffety, Clyde D. Loll, and Keith D. Olson
on their recent 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.
Councilmember Humphrey gave an invocation and Caleb Smith from HISD led the pledges.
3. ELECTION MATTERS
a. Administer the Oath of Office to the newly-elected City Councilmembers-at-Large by Walker County Judge Danny
Pierce. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to elect a Mayor Pro Tem. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger nominated Councilmember Olson for Mayor Pro Tem. There were no other nominations. The motion
was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
4. 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 November 15, 2016 and the Special Session on
November 17, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with RPS Klotz Associates for professional engineering
services for Robinson Creek Basin Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. \[Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
c. Adopt Ordinance 2017-09 to amend the Wastewater CIP Capital Improvement Projects budget. \[Steve Ritter,
Finance Director\]
d. Adopt Ordinance 2017-06 to amend the budget for FY 16-17 and amend the Capital Improvement Projects budget.
\[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
e. Adopt Ordinance 2017-07 to amend the budget for FY 16-17 and amend the Capital Improvement Projects budget.
\[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
f. Adopt Ordinance 2017-08 amend the Wastewater CIP Capital Improvement Projects budget. \[Steve Ritter, Finance
Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar.
Councilmember Allen pulled items d, e, and f. Councilmember Rodriquez pulled item c. The motion to approve items a
and b was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-09 to amend the Wastewater CIP Capital Improvement
Projects budget and was seconded by Councilmember Loll. The motion was unanimously approved, 9-0. Councilmember
Davidhizar moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-06 to amend the budget for FY 16-17 and amend the Capital Improvement
Projects budget and was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. Councilmember Davidhizar moved to amend his motion to
include items e and f. The motion to amend was adopted unanimously, 9-0. The amended main motion to approve items
d, e, and f was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a Historic Preservation Overlay
District Map Amendment for 1215 19th Street, The 1834 Collard Homestead, in the city limits of Huntsville and
adopt Ordinance 2017-11 in support of same, second reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and
Economic Development\]
Councilmember Rodriquez moved to approve a Historic Preservation Overlay District Map Amendment for 1215 19th
Street, The 1834 Collard Homestead, in the city limits of Huntsville, as recommended by the Historic Preservation
Commission and the Planning Commission and adopt Ordinance 2017-11 in support of same. The motion was seconded
by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a Historic Preservation Overlay
District Map Amendment for 1228 11th Street, The Gibbs Powell House County Museum, in the city limits of
Huntsville and adopting Ordinance 2017-12 in support of same, second reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve a Historic Preservation Overlay District Map Amendment for 1228 11th
Street, The Gibbs Powell House County Museum, in the city limits of Huntsville as recommended by the Historic
Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission and adopt Ordinance 2017-12 in support of same. The motion
was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
c. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City
Manager to award the construction contract for Miscellaneous Waterline Replacement Projects Nos. 16-10-13
through 16-10-17, first reading. \[Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to waive a second reading per the provisions of the Council Rules of Provision and was
seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The waiver was approved 7-2, Councilmembers Allen and Davidhizar voting
against. Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to 5-T
Utilities, Inc. for the construction of Miscellaneous Waterline Replacement Projects Nos. 16-10-13 to 16-10-17, in the
amount of $696,551.35; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to
approve a contract with TRU Services/American Fidelity for stop loss insurance coverage in the amount of
$273,597. \[Julie O’Connell, Director of Human Resources\]
Councilmember Davidhizar moved to authorize the City Manager to approve a contract with TRU Services/American
Fidelity for stop loss insurance coverage in the amount of $273,597; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Loll.
The motion was adopted, 9-0.
e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of Ordinance 2017-05 to
amend the budget for FY16-17 for various parking initiatives including approval of an Engineering Agreement to
create approximately 185 additional paid parking spaces north of Sam Houston State University and illustration
and specifications for parking restrictions in the neighborhood west of Sam Houston State University. \[Steve
Ritter, Finance Director; Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Loll moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-05 to amend the budget for FY 16-17 and approval of an
Engineering Agreement with Walter P. Moore Engineering in the amount of $31,300, to create approximately 185
additional paid parking spaces north of Sam Houston State University and illustration and specifications for parking
restrictions in the neighborhood west of Sam Houston State University; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting against. David White was permitted to provide public
comment following the vote.
f. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of Ordinance 2017-04
amending the FY16-17 Annual Budget to amend the “Schedule of Fees and Charges” to change the hourly rate
for “Posted Hourly Parking Fee”, and declaring an effective date. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-04 amending the FY 16-17 Annual Budget to amend the
“Schedule of Fees and Charges” to change the hourly rate for “Posted Hourly Parking Fee”, and declaring an effective
date; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar. The motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting
against.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to designate a City representative and alternate to
the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for 2017. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved his nomination of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem act as the representative and alternate. The
appointment was approved, 9-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider Ordinance 2017-10 (Emergency)
appropriating $650,000 for the Huntsville Animal Shelter and declaring an Emergency and Directing the City
Manager to take certain steps to construct the Huntsville Animal Shelter or Ordinance 2017-13 (Non-Emergency)
appropriating $650,000 for the Huntsville Animal Shelter and authorizing and directing the City Manager to
conduct a conventional Design and Construction Process for the Huntsville Animal Shelter. \[City Manager Matt
Benoit\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve Ordinance 2017-10 (Emergency) appropriating $650,000 for the Huntsville
Animal Shelter and Declaring an Emergency and directing the City Manager to take certain steps to construction the
Huntsville Animal Shelter. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar and Mayor Pro Tem Olson. Daphna
Dennis gave public comment. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
7. 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.
No requests were received by noon on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
9. 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.)
Mayor Brauninger announced:
- Contact the Wynne Home for tickets to their performances of The Nutcracker this week. It is a wonderful production in
association with Nicolay Dance Works and a very special and different way to experience this holiday standard.
- HPD is very proud of Officer Je’rard Collins. He was just named the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hero of the Highway
for the second year in a row!
- HPD is now accepting applications for the 2017 Citizens Police Academy. Check their website or call Officer Kaaa at 291-
5493.
- City of Huntsville facilities will be closed Dec. 23 and 26 for the Christmas holidays.
Councilmember Humphrey lauded the SHSU Marching Band and Directors Gibbs and Grasier, for their moving tribute
performed at Saturday’s game of those lost in a bus accident in Tennessee. She also announced that University Heights
Baptist Church was holding a Christmas choir concert and food drive Thursday evening at 7 p.m.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 - 071 – consultation with counsel on legal matters, and Section 551.072 – deliberation regarding
purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property located at 1105 University Avenue and 1114 Sam Houston
Avenue. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
b. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.087 – deliberation regarding economic development negotiation to deliberate project Nighttime. \[Matt Benoit,
City Manager\]
The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:01 p.m.
11. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 9:111 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize staff to negotiate a lease on 1117 Sam
Houston Avenue and to receive bids on the relocation of the Farris Cabin. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Davidhizar. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary