Minutes - 12/15/2015
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 15 DAY OF DECEMBER 2015, 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: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Tish Humphrey, Joe
Emmett, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Keith D. Olson
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 P.M.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Montgomery gave an invocation and Kalli Garcia 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 December 1, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Adopt Resolution 2016-13 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong for
professional engineering services for 2015-2016 Waterline Replacement Projects. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City
Engineer\]
c. Consider approving tax sale bid for trust properties, Property IDs 26432, 25832, 25512, 26352, and 26270, as
recommended by the Walker County Appraisal District. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
d. Approve Resolution 2016-14 authorizing the City Manager to approve various unit cost purchase orders for Roll-Off
Containers, Dumpsters and Dumpster Bottoms. \[Carol Reed, Public Works Director\]
Councilmember Brauninger moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
Councilmember Allen asked to pull items b and d. The motion for items a and c was adopted, 8-0. Councilmember Humphrey
moved to adopt Resolution 2016-13 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong for
professional engineering services for 2015-2016 Waterline Replacement Projects, the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve
Resolution 2016-14 authorizing the City Manager to approve various unit cost purchase orders for Roll-Off Containers,
Dumpsters and Dumpster Bottoms, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was adopted, 7-1,
Councilmember Allen voting against.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2016-15 authorizing the City
Manager to enter into an agreement with Terra Associates, Inc. for professional engineering services for River Oaks
Drive Improvement Project. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to adopt Resolution 2016-15, authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with
Terra Associates, Inc. for professional engineering services for River Oaks Drive Improvement Project; the motion was
seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2016-16 authorizing the City
Manager to enter into an agreement with McClure & Browne Engineering/Surveying, Inc. for professional engineering
services for Sewer Line Replacement (IH-45 to the Water’s Edge Lift Station) Project - #16-10-05. \[Y. S. “Ram”
Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt Resolution 2016-16 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with
McClure & Browne Engineering/Surveying, Inc. for professional engineering services for Sewer Line Replacement (IH-45 to the
Water’s Edge Lift Station) Project - #16-10-05; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was
adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2016-17 authorizing the City
Manager to approve a contract with Gerber Life for Stop Loss insurance coverage and payment in the amount of
$259,557. \[Julie O’Connell, Human Resources Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Resolution 2016-17 authorizing the City Manager to approve a contract with Gerber
Life for Stop Loss insurance coverage and payment in the amount of $259,557; the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against..
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2016-18 authorizing the City
Manager to enter into an agreement with RPS Klotz Associates for professional engineering services for West Fork
Tanyard Creek Sanitary Sewer project - #16-10-03. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Rodriquez moved to adopt Resolution 2016-18 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with
RPS Klotz Associates for professional engineering services for West Fork Tanyard Creek Sanitary Sewer project - #16-10-03;
the motion was seconded by Councilmembers Montgomery and Brauninger. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember
Allen voting against.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on a request by Councilmember Allen to modify the
Retiree Health Insurance policy, dated September 17, 2015, to clarify eligibility for retiree health insurance for current
retirees who are employed by an employer who provides access to health insurance. \[Councilmember Allen\]
Councilmember Allen moved that the retirement policy going into effect on January 1, 2016, be changed so that only employees
hired after January 1, 2016, are affected and that the changes not apply to current retirees or current employees. The motion
was seconded by Mayor Woodward. Hank Eckhardt, Richard Watkins, Glen Isbell, David Langley, Harold Ramsey, and Johnny
Poteet spoke in support of the motion. HR Director Julie O’Connell said the intent was for pre-65 retirees to be on private
exchanges, receiving reimbursements of up to $750 per month. As Councilmember Montgomery had noted, Mrs. O’Connell
confirmed that many companies had made changes and pulled out of the exchanges since October, with the City then choosing
to bring the pre-65 retirees back onto the City’s self-insured plan for 2016. She added that all but one of the pre-65s had been
enrolled and provided with dental and vision coverage if they wanted it.
For the post-65 group, she continued, retirees who were Medicare-eligible and on the supplement the City had set up, would be
on the Health Plan One exchange. Of the 31 eligible, 27 are set up. They receive $250 per month, and many of them are paying
less. Mayor Woodward confirmed that three other post-65s working for other employers and eligible for Medicare are able to
come back to the City’s plan. Mr. Eckhardt recalled that spouses were covered after the death of retirees, although they did
have to pay, but that this had no longer been the case for several years. Mrs. O’Connell noted that was true under TML and
most other plans, and that spouses could only continue under COBRA for 36 months.
City Manager Matt Benoit said four Councilmembers studied the issue for 6-8 months, that he had met with several retirees, and
encouraged all to consider Mrs. O’Connell an ally in these efforts. Mr. Benoit said Huntsville has always been really good at
taking care of employees and retirees, but that the unfunded liability for the City of around $19.5 million was a reality. Mrs.
O’Connell confirmed retirees needed to enroll by the end of December. Mr. Ramsey said no one had discussed the potential
increase in out of pocket expenses because they were basically being moved from a group plan to individual plans.
The Mayor called a recess at 7:32 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m. Mayor Woodward clarified that retirees over-65 had a
group plan through United Healthcare (United) under the TML umbrella, with a value of just over $400. He further confirmed 27
retirees have signed up for exchanges for reimbursements for $250 a month and that there were a few others employed with
coverage who will not be affected until they end that employment. Mayor Woodward acknowledged it might be difficult to put
everyone back on United and difficult to end the new coverage for those who have made a first payment. Mayor Woodward
suggested the City increase the contribution to $400 for 2016. Councilmember Allen said he would be willing to reword his
motion so that the City would keep the post-65 retirees on the United plan until the issue could be straightened out and it was
determined if those who had paid could be switched back.
City Attorney Leonard Schneider pointed out the motion did not meet the agenda posting. Without objection, the Council
agreed to recess the meeting until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening to continue the item with more information.
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.
No requests received by noon on December 8, 2015.
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.)
Mayor Woodward shared a bet between him and the Mayor of Jacksonville, that the winning Mayor would provide a jersey to the
losing Mayor, to wear at the first regular meeting in January. Councilmember Brauninger thanked the Mayor for his service. Mayor
Woodward thanked all those with whom he had served and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.071
legal advice on the following items:
(i) Claim filed by George Russell against City regarding Town Creek;
(ii) Jerry DeWitt claim against City regarding sidewalk construction;
(iii) Log Cabin located at 1103 and 1105 University Avenue and Notice to Vacate.
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 8:11 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:56 p.m. Councilmember Johnson moved to recess the meeting until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night
and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary