Minutes - 06/04/2013
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 4 DAY OF JUNE 2013, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 5:00 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, James Fitch, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith Olson, Joe Emmett. Tish Humphrey,
Ronald Allen, Clyde Loll
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
RECEPTION [5:00PM – Large Conference Room] – A reception was held to celebrate graduating seniors who are children of City
employees and recipients of Employee Scholarship Fund grants, supplied through employee donations.
REGULAR SESSION [6:00PM]
1. CALL TO ORDER – In the presence of a quorum, the Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Montgomery gave the invocation and graduating seniors Steven Hall, Daniel
Agey, Denzel Bradford, Dylan Cruson, Keith Lee, Nayana Ramachandra, Colson Slaven, Duncan Thornton, Leighann Wells,
and Brittany Widner led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Presentation of Employee Scholarship recipients
- Unveiling of the new Fire Department video
- Buxton will present information on completion of the Retail Recruitment and Retention Solution contract with the
City.
Councilmember Allen asked Mrs. Hill for cities with which Buxton had helped with industry. She noted the reference list
had been available since the beginning of the working relationship which provided data as a tool for cities and that would
also be available through City staff for local individuals to use for business retention and brand alignment. Aron Kulhavy,
Director of Community and Economic Development, said some data would be available within the week and his team
would continue to train to modify reporting. Councilmember Fitch encouraged community access to the data.
Councilmember Olson lauded and thanked Mrs. Hill for her professionalism in the handling of the City’s contract. The
Mayor called a five minute recess at 7:08 pm.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council will receive public input on Ordinance 2013-23 to remove 501.6 Gas & Oil Wells from Chapter 5 of the
Huntsville Development Code. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development]
Mayor Woodward began the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. Mr. Kulhavy said the Development Code review process had revealed
an inconsistent statement with the Code of Ordinances, resulting in this item, which had been heard and unanimously
recommended to the City Council. Mayor Woodward closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
(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 Regular Session held on May 21, 2013 and the Workshop held on May
23, 2013. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
b. Approve Ordinance 2013-27, updating the Employee Policy and Procedure Manual Section 9.05, Electronic
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Communications Policy and Section 10.10 Cellular Telephones Policy, 2 reading. [Chris Vasquez, IT Director
and Missy Davidson, Interim Human Resource Director]
c. Approve an interlocal agreement with the Sam Houston State University Sam Houston Memorial Museum for the
disposal of three (3) decorative light poles. [Billie Smith, Procurement Manager]
d. Approve Ordinance 2013-24 creating a Municipal Setting Designation (MSD) located near the intersection of
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Avenue I and South Sam Houston Avenue, 2 reading. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development]
(Item c was pulled from consideration and not voted upon.) Councilmember Olson moved to approve the Consent
Agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously.
7. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to approve Task Order No. 7 with
Schaumburg and Polk, Inc. (SPI) for final design of Old Colony Road Gravity Sanitary Sewer (OCR) Project
Phases V & VI, 08-10-31 and 08-10-32. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development]
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to approve Task Order No. 7 with Schaumburg and Polk, Inc.
(SPI) for final design of Old Colony Road Gravity Sanitary Sewer (OCR) Project Phases V & VI, 08-10-31 and 08-10-32
and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The City Manager asked that this be considered as a first reading due
to the total amount in question, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. Councilmember Johnson moved to postpone
the item to the next meeting and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion to postpone passed unanimously.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2013-27 toremove section 501.6, Gas and
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Oil Wells from Chapter 5 of the Huntsville Development Code, 1 reading. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community
and Economic Development]
No action was taken.
8. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2013-29 to amend Chapter 14 of the Code of
Ordinances by adding a new article VI “Secondhand Jewelry and Precious Metal”; making other provisions and
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findings thereto; and declaring an effective date, 1 reading. [Councilmember Fitch]
(Councilmember Olson signed a Conflict of Interest form and did not participate in the discussion.) Councilmember Fitch
noted pawn shops and non-profit organizations would be exempted from the ordinance, along with other wording
changes. Councilmember Humphrey requested terminology clarification for delivery terms. Councilmember Montgomery
asked about grandfathering for current inventory and was told the ordinance provisions would be from passage forward.
She also asked about public disclosure and the City Attorney said sales would be public information. Councilmember
Emmett confirmed information could be used for prosecution. Councilmember Fitch said there were eight local
businesses anticipated to be affected.
b. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
Sergeant Jeff Dugas gave a presentation on the 2013 Patrol Vehicle Study. Councilmember Humphrey asked the
City Manager for the City Garage and Purchasing to make a budget presentation for all other departments’ vehicles.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
10. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
11. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (Hear announcements concerning items of community interest from the Board for which
no action will be discussed or taken.)
The Mayor announced the Statue’s Millionth visitor, Brenda Bowman of Buffalo. Her name went into a drawing with the other
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winners (each 7,000 person leading up to 1 million) and Marcia Williams of Missouri City won the drawing and the $10,000 in
cash and prizes! He also said several of the Councilmembers participated in Saturday’s Crime Stoppers bowling tournament –
a lot of money was raised for this great cause, and Councilmember Fitch bowled a perfect game! Mayor Woodward
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announced a City Fire Department fund raiser from 7 am to 5 pm on Thursday, June 6 for the July 4 fireworks at the
McKenzie’s parking lot, known as Operation Red, White, and YOU! Councilmember Olson announced the SAAFE House
Crawfest coming up on June 13. Councilmember Humphrey reminded all of the upcoming Youth Leadership Program and
urged interested individuals to take part and identify themselves.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section
551.074 - personnel matters regarding the evaluation and job duties of City Manager Matt Benoit. [Mayor
Woodward]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 8:04 p.m.
13. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 9:23 p.m. No further action was taken.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 9:23 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary