Minutes - 08/21/2012 f
i
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 21sT DAY OF AUGUST 2012, IN THE
CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:00
PM. r
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, James Fitch, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish
Humphrey,Ronald Allen,Clyde Loll
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT:Chuck Pinto,Interim City Manager Leonard Schneider City Attorney Lee Woodward City Secretary
REGULAR SESSION [6:OOPM]
1. CALL TO ORDER—Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES — Councilmember Johnson led the invocation. A group of"Camp,Little 'Y"' campers
from the Huntsville Family YMCA led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Recognition of Procurement Manager Billie Smith, CPPB, on receiving her Certified Public Purchasing Officer
(CPPO)certification.
- Recognition of donors and employee contributions to Employee Summer Picnic.
- Report on YMCA mission trip to San Francisco—Sandra Clifton
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Callie Dretke of Huntsville Memorial Hospital spoke in support of the stop signs at Robinson Creek Parkway.
Michael Moller expressed his concern about the safety of nursing students and patients in relation to the stop signs in
item 6c.
Tamara Chasteen thanked the Council for their work on the budget and encouraged staffing of the Wynne Home and
Main Street during prime tourism hours and promoting the activities at these facilities.
Roxann Langston told of her close calls with traffic on Robinson Creek Parkway, encouraging support of item 6c.
O 5. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve the minutes of the City Council Regular Session held on August 7,2012 and the budget workshop
of August 14,2012. [Lee Woodward,City Secretary]
b. Approve Ordinance 2012-36 relating to speed zones on FM 247 in areas of the city of Huntsville with
speeds in excess of thirty(30)miles per hour,2nd reading. [Aron Kulhavy]
c. Approve Ordinance 2012-37, amending the budget for FY11-12. [Winston Duke, Finance Director]
Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the Consent Agenda and was seconded by Councilmember
Montgomery. The motion passed unanimous.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the 2012 Joint Election Agreement and Election
Services Contract with Walker County for the 2012 election cycle. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
Councilmember Fitch moved to approve the item and was seconded by Councilmember Olson The motion
passed unanimously.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve payments and transfers from the TIRZ fund to
pay Ravenwood Village, Ltd. (Developer) $151,061.43 life-to-date increment property tax (related to
infrastructure installed); reimburse the City's General Fund $28,211.00 for administrative costs (TIRZ
consultant); transfer$76,769.37 in forfeited monies to City's General Fund; transfer$16,992.07 in interest
to the General Fund.[Winston Duke, Finance Director]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the item and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey
Winston Duke, Finance Director, confirmed this was the first payment to the developer, along with the annual
items.
The motion passed unanimously.
c. Presentation,discussion,and possible action to approve Ordinance 2012-35 amending the traffic schedule
O by ratifying stop signs on Robinson Creek Parkway at Memorial Hospital Drive, 2"d reading. [Aron
Kulhavy]
Councilmember Johnson moved to aDprove Ordinance 2012-35 and was seconded by Councilmember Loll
Councilmember Allen said he thought the Council had the issue backwards, citing blinking lights and crosswalk
monitor at Highway 190 where students cross and that the Hospital should do the same to prevent cars running
the stop sign. Councilmember Humphrey also asked about signs to slow the traffic prior to the intersection,
expressing concern about the sight distance issue. Mrs. Dretke cited the patients and other persons crossing who
weren't part of the regular nursing class crossings.
Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works, said there were advance warning signs and rumble strips on the side
approaching the interstate, but not on the side turning from the feeder road. Councilmember Montgomery said she
had traveled the area again and had noted more crossing than she had previously noted. Councilmember
Johnson agreed. Councilmember Fitch confirmed with Mr. Kulhavy that there weren't signs alerting drivers of
pedestrians. The Councilmember also noted areas around town where elementary and university students had to
frequently cross and added that the TxDoT study did not propose stop signs and was reluctant to set precedent
here.
Councilmember Olson pointed out there was a staff recommendation and expressed support of the sign.
Councilmember Allen asked Mrs. Dretke if the Hospital could work with the City and take on part of the
responsibility. She said the Hospital did rent space in the Robinson Creek strip center, but that it was not Hospital
property and many non-Hospital customers crossed in the area. Councilmember Loll said he was also in favor of
the signs. Mr. Kulhavy responded to the Mayor's question about a crosswalk at the intersection and said ADA-
compliance would cost about$7,000, and that Mrs. Dretke said the Hospital would look into sharing the cost.
Councilmember Fitch brought up the crosswalk with blinking lights on Sycamore and felt this was serving a very
small population rather than looking at the bigger picture and asked that alternatives to aid safety be considered,
such as a crosswalk. He added that warning signs alone had not been tried prior to placing the stop signs. Y.S.
"Ram" Ramachandra, City Engineer, said that all aspects of the traffic scenario were reviewed and did not find a
situation to warrant a crosswalk, but rather the sight distance issue, prompting the stop signs, and that the
pedestrian issue was secondary. Councilmember Montgomery asked if he would have any other
recommendations and he said the pedestrians would have to be studied as a separate issue. He also answered
her question about number of crossers necessitating a crosswalk by saying that it depended on the type of street
and amount of traffic as well and that his study prompted a question over why there was not more parking.
Councilmember Fitch confirmed with Mr. Ramachandra that the study prompted stop signs for sight distance and
that there had only been two accidents at the intersection. Councilmember Olson noted there seemed to be
unlawful speed in the area and that the stop signs should help the issue.
The motion passed. 7-2. Councilmembers Fitch and Allen voting against
d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2012-27 supporting a settlement
regarding transfer of operational control of Entergy's transmission system to the Midwest Independent
Transmission Operation. [Leonard Schneider,City Attorney]
Councilmember Johnson moved to approve Resolution 2012-27 and was seconded by Councilmember Olson
Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, noted the Lawton Law Firm reviewed the issue for the City and intervened to
have experts review the proposed transfer and support it with three conditions, to which Entergy agreed, along with
the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO), therefore, the Lawton Law Firm
recommended the resolution to the City. The Mayor noted there was no additional expense to the City.
The motion passed unanimously.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER REPORT
a. Discussion on the selection of a permanent City Manager,standing item. [Mayor Woodward]
The Mayor noted SGR was accepting applications and had the brochure on their website.
b. Discussion on the FY 12-13 budget,standing item. [Mayor Woodward]
The Mayor reminded all of the Public Hearings to be held on Wednesdays,August 22 and 29 at 6 p.m.and
encouraged citizens to attend and participate.
c. Presentation, discussion,and possible action on nominations for boards and commissions. [Mayor
Woodward]
The Mayor made the nominations listed below. The motion passed unanimouslly.
- Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity/Section 504 Standards Officer—Chandra Steinback,Assistant Community Development
Specialist
- Arts Commission—Betsy Maloney,to fill incomplete tern
- Cemetery Advisory Board—D'Anne Crews,re-appointment
- Main Street Advisory Board—Ferne Frosch,re-appointment
Cheryl Spencer,re-appointment
I
- Par ks L Recreation A isory Board
John Smithey,re-appointment
- Natural Preservation Ad Hoc Committee—Jordan Herrin
- TIRZ#1 Board of Directors—Dalene Zender,re-appointment
- City of Huntsville,Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board—Tom Fordyce,re-appointment
Nathan Brown
Sgt.Joseph W.Brooks
- Youth Advisory Board—Aliyah Houston,youth re-appointment
- Zoning Board of Adjustments—Joe E.Kirk,re-appointment
Bill Barry,re-appointment
Bobby Crowson,Alternate—re-appointment
John Cromer,Alternate—re-appointment
d. City Manager's Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants,studies, City projects, City purchases,and economic
development.
Mr. Pinto had no report.
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
- The Mayor reminded everyone to vote for the 2012 Communities Take Root program, sponsored by Dryer's Fruit
Bars.The City could win its own fruit orchard with enough citizen votes, and citizens may vote for Huntsville daily
at http://www.communitiestakeroot.com. The City is in fourth place with eight days of voting remaining.
O - Matt Lumpkins, Director of Community Services, noted the City had lost 1158 in high-use areas of the City parks,
and Dr.McKibben noted that 20-30 trees would come with the orchard, if won, in MLK Park. The Mayor noted the
assistance of TDCJ inmate service in excess of 29,000 hours valued at more than$360,000 and expressed great
appreciation from the City.
- The Mayor asked that all visit the Farmers Market every Saturday, 8-12, on the east side of the Courthouse
square,through the end of August.
- The Junior Fellows are hosting their 4th Annual Legends of Hollywood Film Festival on September 15 at the
Walker Education Center. This year's featured star is Dana Andrews, who was raised in Huntsville, graduated
from HHS, and attended SHSU. Featured guests include Dr. Carl Rollyson, who has just released the first major
Andrews' biography, as well as Andrews'daughter and niece. For more information on times and tickets, contact
Mike Yawn at 936-294-1456.
- Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Arts, attended the Texas Association of Convention & Visitor
Bureaus Conference last week. The visitors' guide won 1st place for cooperative marketing in the idea fair, the
Department won 1st place for websites for tourism budgets under 350,000, and Kimm received her certification as
a Texas Destination Marketer.
- Mrs. Thomas also announced the Town Creek Music Festival will be held at Eastham-Thomason Park on
Saturday, September 1 from 2-9 pm, saying there would be a great variety of music. Contact Kimm Thomas at
291-5932 for more information.
- The Mayor congratulated HHS participants at the recent TAAF State games in Corpus Christi! Lindell Venible
finished fifth, and he and Cameran Estes qualified for Junior Olympics in two events. The girls 4X100 relay team
for 16&under broke the state record on July 29 and then finished second in the nation the next week. The team is
Kortnei Johnson, Faith Williams,Teaundrea Taylor, Keaundrea Taylor, and Coach Darell Williams.
- Mayor Woodward also congratulated Coach Debbie Hightower of the Lady Hornet Volleyball team who recently
earned her 500th career coaching victory, and said the team is also off to a great start this season and we wish
Othem all the best!
- Mrs.Thomas also announced the SHSU Women's Basketball team was having a Paint the Town Orange event for
September 15 and asked businesses to show support and display signage to welcome students and their parents
for the new semester. The Mayor announced HISD would begin next Monday and asked everyone to be aware.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 —
consultation with counsel on legal matters and procedures regarding sale of wastewater effluent to
Montgomery County Municipal Utility Districts 8 and 9. [Carol Reed, Director of Public Utilities]
The Council convened into Executive Session at 7:11 p.m.
12. RECONVENE
The Council re-convened into regular session at 7.52 p.m. Councilmember Johnson moved to direct staff to continue
negotiations with San Jacinto River Authority(SJRA) the City of Houston and Montgomery County MUDs #8 and #9
and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey The motion passed unanimously
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:53 D.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward,City Secretary I u/