Minutes - 04/04/2017MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 4th DAY OF APRIL 2017, 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, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P.
Rodriquez, Clyde D. Loll, Tyler McCaffety
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Paul Davidhizar
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
WORK SESSION [5:15 P.M.] - The City Council will discuss options for a smoking ordinance.
The Council and City Manager discussed the meetings held with restaurant and bar owners recently, as well as levels of prohibition
in other cities, in considering a revised smoking ordinance to be considered on an upcoming agenda.
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 McCaffety gave an invocation. Little Dribblers from the teams headed to the national competition led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Little Dribblers Day
- Fair Housing Month
- Safe Digging Month
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 March 21, 2017. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember McCaffety. The
motion was unanimously adopted, 8-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to
enter an agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. for professional engineering services for 2016 Bond Proposition
#3 Water Infrastructure Projects (17-01-01) and approve the associated budget amendment Ordinance 2017-26, first
reading. [Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer]
First reading, no action taken.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to
enter an agreement with Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, Inc., (eHT) for professional engineering services for 2016 Bond
Proposition #3 Wastewater Infrastructure Projects (17-01-02), first reading. [Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer]
First reading, no action taken.
c. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City
Manager to enter an agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. for professional engineering services for 2016 Bond
Proposition #3 Wastewater Infrastructure Project — Relocation of Elkins Lake Dam Lift Station and 30" Sewer Main
(17-11-09) and approve the associated budget amendment Ordinance 2017-28, first reading. [Ram Ramachandra,
City Engineer]
First reading, no action taken.
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
an agreement with American Civil Engineering Services, L.P. (ACES) for Project Management services for 2016
Bond Proposition #3 Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects and approving associated budget amendment
Ordinance 2017-27. [Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to enter an agreement with American Civil Engineering
Services, L.P. (ACES) for Project Management services for 2016 Bond Proposition #3 Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Projects and approve the associated budget amendment Ordinance 2017-27; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
into a lease agreement with Sealark Investments, LLC for an Oil, Gas and Mineral Lease covering lands situated in
Walker County, Texas. [Aron Kulhavy, Community and Economic Development Director]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a lease agreement with Sealark Investments,
LLC, for an oil, gas, and mineral lease covering lands situated in Walker County, Texas, and make a finding that Charter
Section 14.13 (b) is inapplicable to the leasing of subsurface and oil and gas operations; the motion was seconded by
Councilmember Rodriquez. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to "table" the item until the April 18th Council meeting; the motion
was seconded by Councilmembers Allen and Rodriquez. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
6. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to nominate and select a nominee to be considered
for the Walker County Appraisal District Board of Directors and adopt Resolution 2017-09 in support of same.
[Mayor Brauninger]
(Councilmember Loll had previously signed a Conflict of Interest affidavit and did not participate in the discussion or vote.)
Mayor Brauninger nominated Otis Oliphant. The motion was not adopted, 3-4, Mayor Brauninger, and Councilmembers
McCaffety and Rodriquez voting in support. Councilmember Humphrey nominated Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was
adopted, 5-2, Mayor Brauninger and Councilmember Rodriquez against. Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt
Resolution 2017-09 in support of the nomination of Mayor Pro Tem Olson for the Walker County Appraisal District Board of
Directors; the motion was seconded by Councilmember McCaffety. The motion was adopted, 7-0.
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, March 28, 2017.
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 Pro Tem Olson presented an HISD Minute! - It's time to register for this summer's HEAP program! Visit www.huntsville-
isd.org and look under the COMMUNITY tab to link to information and registration. It's a great time full of a variety of activities
for kids 6-13 and has been a Huntsville summer staple since 1969!
Strong and healthy bodies support strong and healthy minds. Summer can be a challenging time for children on free and reduced
meal price programs, so HISD will have the Green Hornet Bus out around town to help! Find out more on the HISD website, or
visit one of their three upcoming block parties — University Heights Baptist Church on April 10, Boys & Girls Club on MLK on
April 13, Riverside Baptist Church on April 17, and Cogan's Grove subdivision off FM 1696 on April 24. All of the block parties
will be at 5:30 p.m. and will provide information for the summer programs. Call 936-435-6300 with any questions.
Councilmember Humphrey shared the following. It's time again for the annual SHSU LEAP Center Democrat vs. Republican
charity football game! This fun event benefits the Huntsville YMCA and the John Holcombe Memorial Scholarship Fund. It will
be held at noon on Saturday, April 8, at the track near Pritchett Field, on Avenue O. The players have already donated $1,500
so please help double this amount (or better) with a sponsorship or donation. For more information, contact Mike Yawn at 294-
1456.
CoH Clean Minute! — Check your utility bills this month for the City Connection story on beautifying our community. The City
Council made this a priority when we developed our Strategic Plan for this year, and the City Manager and staff have quickly
taken action. Please support a community that's neat and tidy by posting to our social media pages when you see something
positive, clean, and litter -free around town!
Mayor Brauninger announced:
- Check the Wynne Home page on the City website for their full schedule of spring classes and events. There are things for
all ages and some are free. Learn something new or develop a skill!
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:30 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary