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MIN CC 08/25/1987MINUTES & &!GUST 25, 19$7 MOOS "0" 929 OF THE HUNTSVILLE ITT COUNCIL MEETING, HELD ON THE 2 TH DAY OF Al U N H 1UN L ERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M. IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER. TEXAS AT 6 :45 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following members present: Percy Howard, Jr., Mayor Pro tem 0. Eugene Barrett Gary Bell Jim Carter Ida G. Gaines William B. Green William L. Hammock Percy Howard, Jr. Bill Knotts Member absent: Jane Monday, Mayor City Officers Present: Gene Pipes, City Manager Scott Bounds, City Attorney Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary The Council was called to order by the Honorable Percy Howard, Jr., Mayor Pro Tem. The invocation was oted by Pastor Monty Ginnings of the Church of Christ. CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 11, 1987 MEETING Councilmember Green made the motion to ado•t the minutes Barrett seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Carter pointed out that in the vote on approving the contract by the Council for conference services with the Huntsville Area Conference and Visitor's Bureau that passed by a vote of 6 to 2, the word "unanimously" should be stricken from the line indicating the motion passed. Councilmember Knotts noted that the minutes should also record (although not reiterated in the meeting) that the ordinance requested by the Council during the meeting did cl a r 1 fy that the increase in the hotel - mottl tax from 4Z to 71 did not specify that it would be for a specific project. The Council concurred with these amendments. Councilmember Green then made the motion to accept the minutes of August 11, 1987, as amended. and Councilmember Hammock seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING Opt= a Public Hearing to receive input concerning a request by HISD to close a portion of Old Colony Road through the Huntsville Junior High Campus Mayor Pro Tem Howard then introduced the reason for the public hearing and noted there are s large number of citizens here tonight to address this issue. He noted each person will be heard in the order in which they have registered on the speaker's sheet. Mr. Gene Pipes. City Manager, noted Dr. Barry Tacker, HISD Superintendent, wil: now preface the remarks with his original request for the closing of a portion of Old Colony Road. Dr. Barry Tacker advised that Old Colony Road passes through the Huntsville Junior High School campus and as such, presents a danger to students that must cross the road in order to use the physical education facilities located on the north side of Old Colony Road with the classrooms being on the south side of this road. He said HISD is asking the Council to consider closing this road at least from 7:45 A.M. until 3:45 P.M., or after the students have been dismissed. He said the concern is to protect the children from oncoming traffic as they cross the road. He suggested closing Old Colony Road on the east side of Elm Street towards the end of the building by erecting a barrier there and also on the school side of Goodrich Street at school district expense and maintain closure during school hours. Councilmember Bell asked Dr. Tacker if a new classroom building is to be built right on top of the street, as toted in the most recent master plan of the school (Facilities Study and Master Plan with Pfluger Associates) for Huntsville Junior High. Dr. Tacker said that is simply a plan at this point in time. He said they have loosed at the alternative of putting it wherever the playground facilities are at the present time behind the cafeteria. He said it would be nice if H1SD could use the acreage across the street for facilities at some point in :ime. He said they have also discussed using the portion behind the cafeteria to the east of the present building. Councilmember Bell said so there is no assumption that the street is going to be closed and that that is .6hool property. Dr. Tacker said there is no assumption to that effect. Mr. Gene Pipes. City Manager, then called each of thecitizens on the list of speakers to address the Council aY the podium. Daniel Slater -- Mr. Slater thanked the city for providing this opportunity. He agreed that the safety of the school children and staff is of immediate concern. He said another concern we can have is what a re-routing of traffic in that area would do to the local neighborhood -- the effect will be looping cars, buses, incoming traffic /outgoing traffic in the afternoons through the neighborhood and they are not used to this as the neighbors are used to the relative amount of safety they have for their children that are not attend- ing school to be able to walk in the street or play in the yard without the increased traffic flow. He said . Old Colony Road handles a great deal of through traffic from the Loop to Hwy 190 and the neighborhoods are going to suffer. He said his personal concern is, in picking up his child in the afternoon, that he would probably use School Road which comes from Hwy 190 to Scott Johnson School. He said in previous remodeling phases of the campus there. the HISD has closed off what was originally a through street as School Road used to go through to Old Colony Road; this was done to cut down on the traffic flow. and created a cul -de -sac which will allow one to come in from Hwy 190. make a loop, and come back out. His personal experience at Stewart Elementary in taking his child to school is that his son could escort himself to the front door. He said in this new situation, it could very well be the same way In that a child may be able to get out of the car in the morning and walk himself to the front door; however, he said, it is in the afternoon that things start breaking down. He said the school policy (and this is for the children's own good), is that if one is to be picked up. he will wait in the cafeteria until the parent or guardian who is supposed to pick up the child comes to call for him. He said this creates a parking problem out front. He said no matter how wide School Road seems to be going up to it, when there are cars parallel parked, trying - to jockey in and out, there is wasted space. therefore a tremendous parking problem. He said the problem of safety is what he would like the city to consider this evening. He said we all want the safety of our children and it may be a good idea to clone the road, but the other important parts are the question of whether it will have a negative impact on the neighborhood when we subject it to increased circulation, and also the frustrations of the afternoon pick -up time. Luther Jones — Mr. Jonas, Manager of the local Entax Gas Company, noted his concern is the gas lines in the street that might be closed. Is.atd tha area from Ivy 190 to Old Colony Road into Goodrich, etc. are with gas lines. Me said a temporary closing with • gate vill have no effect, but any building that might be erected on a u r•at_vill mean Lttex will have to move a. lines, which are rather ex naive. He noted also 1 Sage !SO 1111luTSg Of 1OOOST 2S, 1947 COUNCIL MELTING PADS •O- .convenience posed to his Kates service trucks in servicing that area if the road is closed during the day. be said his main concern is that this road not be permanently closed because of the existence of the gas line =:.e street, but Entex can live with this situation if it is only a temporary closing during the day. Biel Smith -- Mr. Smith asked the Council to keep the road open, because this is a Black neighborhood and if police services are needed in that area, an officer would have to travel an additional mile to get around there. He said if someone is beating on your door, an extra mile could make a difference. He said people live near the school there and if they should have a fire, it would be disconcerting to be able to see the :ire truck going a mile out of its way to get to your house, which is burning. He said he is also concerned ibou: the safety of the children, but the main thing is that the people that live there have to be there. He said parents come and go with their children, but all the people that live there have to be in that area. C ouc__lmember Bell asked Mr. Smith if he represented the neighborhood. Mr. Smith said he is speaking in beha_: of the neighborhood. Councilmember Bell asked how the neighborhood feels about a temporary closing racier than a permanent closing, such as closing just during school hours. Mr. Smith said he would have to be Back to understand that Black crime on Black people 1s different than it is on Whites. He said he is a for -er police officer himself. so he knows. He said he would be concerned with having the road closed at any :ime and he wants it open during school hours. He said a fire can start any time and it will not wait for school to be out. .larah Wiley -- Ms. Wiley asked the Council to keep the road open. She presented a petition and several letters from those who could not make it to this meeting, all of whom voiced the opinion that the road should remain Jpe:. She said this is a dangerous situation, but it is dangerous anyway this goes and it is dangerous all Jver town as well as at home. She felt the major problem would be in cases of emergencies. She noted the roads out there are full of potholes. She was concerned about the time element involved in the case of nand ling an emergency if this road is closed off to traffic during the day. tmivie a Flowers -- Ms. Flowers said she is 1002 for keeping this road open since she has been living on that road for 40 plus years. She said she has never heard of any children being hurt out there. She said she Knows this is dangerous, but she would prefer the school providing for crossing protection rather than close the street, She agreed with Daniel Smith's concern about emergency personnel having quick access to the neighborhood. She said she wants help for the children, but does not want the street closed. wberto Bass -- Mr. Bass said he has been living in that area for about 50 years and before that he lived _ further on down there as a kid. He expressed his opposition to closing this street. He said if necessary:, he'll get out there to help the kids because he didn't want any kids to get hurt. `.mss. Nora Bass -- Mrs. Bass said there are plenty of children out on the street where she lives and they are out on their bicycles in the evening and in the mornings and she is opposed to closing the street as it would present more traffic on her street. She said she is afraid to be out on the street now because of the fast traffic and with more traffic. it will be even more dangerous. Rnthie Johnson -- Ms. Johnson said she too is opposed to closing this road. She is concerned about the safety of the children, but this neighborhood is full of old Black people and there are not many young people out there. Most of them are old people who have been out there all of their lives and for their own safety, the road should not be closed. She said signs are needed farther on down some of the other streets like Trinity Cut Off and Goodrich Road that say "Slow down, Kids at Play." 2 hnnie M. Patrick — Ms. Patrick said she loves children and thinks they should be protected, but the people who are living in the area need to be considered too. She said the school and the city should arrange some way to have slow down signs in that particular area, but let the people keep on going through because it would be inconvenient for them out there to go one -half mile out of the way. She said she trusts it will be worked out some way so they can keep traveling but signs or other regulations could be established. She said they would all cooperate and she feels things would work out. ary Mc Gowan -- Ms. McGowan said she is 1002 against the closing of the street because they are taxpayers, homeowners and citizens. She said she feels the city owes it to them to leave that street open. although she appreciates their need to also look out for the children. She said there are older people out there and she would appreciate the city making it safe for them too. She said if an old sick person out there cal for an ambulance, it may just delay that service getting to the one in need. She asked the Council to pro- tect the old people as much as the children. Ella Fay Johnson — Ms. Johnson also said she is 1002 against it because there are alot of old people out there and if they get sick and need an ambulance, it would have to fiod where they live before it could pick them up and they may be dead by that time. She said she wishes they could work something out so the street could stay open. Sonja :ones -- Ms. Jones said she lives on Haywood Street in the New Addition Community and wants the stree to remain open. She said she went to that school as a kid and walked to school. Her children walked to school and her grandchildren will be walking to school this year, she said. She didn't think it is so dan- gercus as there are more dangerous places than crossing up there by the gym. She said a lot of the kids vii= have to walk to school from on the other side of Loop 19 and if that is not dangerous, she didn't know what one would call dangerous. She said there is no light there and it is dangerous for adults to cross. even in a car and it will certainly be more so dangerous for the kids that have to walk across there. She said if the kids can cross that loop, they can walk across from the gym. She said at the gym, they do have supervision as there is always someone out there to help them, but when they get over there to Hwy 190. they won't have anyone to help them across the street. gie Randle -- Ma. Randle asked the Council to keep the road open so they can get by. She said If it is closed and nobody can get to them, they may get burnt up or knocked in the head, etc. She said she hoped the City would let the road stay open for their sake. She pleaded with the Council to "please, help us out that much." Edna Marie Hall — Ms. Hall also opposed closing this road because in traveling to and from her residence to where it is intended to close the road, she has never encountered a problem with the traffic as the mocdtiste have always stopped to let the kids pass. She said she has never seen anyone run through, the kids always cross safely, and she has never heard of any accident out there. eder Murton -- I. Burton said this is the first time she has ever heard of anyone being close to being hit out there. She said it was also said that it is dangerous for the kids. She said Mr. Coburn holds • sign up t eflmutse of August 25. 1147 AWL 'O' Pus •31 for the children. She said she would hold the sign up if the job were given to Mr and that she'd be glad to ho.d the sign because she is old and needs the money. She said if they can pay Mr. Coburn to hold up a sign across town. give Ms. Burton the sign in the New Addition. She said she has been out there since 1941 and she does not want to see the road closed. Doris Carter -- Ms. Carter said: "Please don't close the road cause that's my heart's desire, because we need the street open. Don't close it. For heaven's sake, don't close it. Please, 1 beg you." Fammie Wiley -- Ms. Wiley said there has been enough said about not closing the road, so she'll just agree with all those who spoke about keeping the road open because they do have old people out there and they are citize and they do pay taxes. She said if they say let the road stay open if we will, she will appreciate it to Lcla M. Smith -- Ms. Smith said she lives out there in New Addition and there are more risks there than there are up at the school. She said there is always somebody getting hurt. She said the policemen and firewagons tome out there and they get lost from these other little names of the streets they've put out there now and iE they close Old Colony Road, they'll never get any help out there. Bermetha Lee -- Ms. Lee said it is her personal opinion that she is not in favor of closing the road out there for all of the reasons stated by the neighborhood already. Vertice Fisher -- Ms. Fisher said she walked to school there four years and has two kids who will be going to that school. She said there is no bus picking them up already as it is and some of them out there have to work. She said she doesn't have anyone to pick up her kids in the afternoon to direct the to the house and they might get lost going home and go farther across the loop. She said she would like to leave the road open because nothing serious has happened up there and nothing happened to her during her four years walking co school there. She said what they should have looked at is before they took the transportation away from the in having to make them walk from the start. She asked what they are going to do about Haywxe1 Street and Sprott Road and the kids that have to walk off of Trinity Cut Off - -ii they're not going co close any of them, they should not close any of the rest of them. C. Phillips -- Mr. Phillips felt we have a problem in determining who we are going to make it the safest for- -the old people or the kids- -and we are going to have to make a decision between the two, he guessed. He said he assumes, and he is pretty sure the Council or the school system or whoever, has considered having maybe a flagman out there which would cream a job for somebody. Of course, he said, maybe they are trying to balance the budget like every other organization and might not be able. He said he is in accord with. most of the people there who don't want it closed. Individually, he said, it doesn't make any difference to him unless there is an emergency. He said he understands this closing will only be during school hours and it will be open again after school. He said he can understand many reasons why the people feel like ails becaus they as human beings are kind of inclined to put a lot of emphasis on tradition, etc. He said it is hard to get people to change from that some times. He said he is sure everybody here is for safety for everybody and that is easily understandable. He said he didn't know whether they'll be able to make it safe for every- body or not even after we do all we can - -the best we can. For the benefit of those people- -some of whom are more handicapped than he as he can go around as long as there is not an emergency. He said in an emergency, it is kind of rough as he has seen fire trucks running around down in there looking for the house that is on fire -- although of course this was at night on that occasion. He said he hopes the Council will be able to please all of these people as they don't vent the road closed and he'll have to be in accord with them. He said he is not speaking for any community, but just as an individual, but he will be willing to do whatever he can do to help make it safe for the kids. He said normally old people like him can get out of the way and he is more careful than the kids, but if a ball bounces across the street and a kid takes out after the ball. he might not even think about an automobile because he'll just dash out there. He said he knows we have some pretty wild drivers come through there and while he didn't know if they have given the city any trouble or not, he didn't guess it 1s too late. He said he would consider and he guesses the City and school have considered a flagman or a light or whatever. Mr. Pipes said this concludes the list of people who have signed up before the meeting. He thanked them for their presentations. He then asked if there is anyone else present who would care to speak on this matter at this time whether they are signed up or not. The following individuals the made presentations. Ned Jordon -- Mr. Jordon asked what the big idea is for closing it as he doesn't know what he is talking on. He said he first understood they are going to close the road off from El Road on through the school and if that is done, then we'll block out some of those people to where they can't get out. He said he was unsure just where the closing is proposed. Mr. Pipes clarified it would be at Goodrich on Old Colony Road and go down to Elm on the west end but Elm would be left open, according to what Dr. Tacker stated earlier, for schoo hours only. Mr. Jordon said then he would be with the bunch of them and he would not want it closed. He said he sees in Houston and other places they have a place for kids to go over the roads and that kind of thing. He said he didn't believe there would be too much sore expense to go over the road than to block it + off. He said that is how he feels about it. Daniel Slater -- Mr. Slater again approached the podium to advise he has an idea about the flagmen, stop light and all that. He said it could be • very simple solution if the city really wants to cut down the traffic in there; it could put in a temporary barricade like a saw horse with a sign on it saying it is closed during school hours and it would be very easy for a fire truck. polite vehicle or ambulance to go around it, but if it carried a sign "by ordinance of the City," then it would be closed to the general population. He said it could be even simpler than that - -it could be a stop sign with a broad crosswalk. He felt the majority of the motorists would adhere to the advertised and well- placed stop aign. Joe French Fire Chief Joe French then said the people who have spoken before him have expressed his sentiments ' to the "T." He said he feels everyone In this room is in favor of the safety of the children. He said in the past we have not had a problem of which he is aware with the children as far as emergency vehicles are concerned. He said when the Council makes this decision, he would like for them to be reminded that Old Colony Road there behind the school is the quickest, most direct route the fire department has, as well as the ambulance, police and the sheriff's department. not only to get to the houses or homes right behind the school, but everybody that is across the loop that lives in the county and down those roads there. He said fire trucks - -the long heavy tank trucks they have to use in the county- -are hard to turn. He said if this road is closed off, it will mean delayed time for them to get where they are needed. He said he is not in favor of closing tHis road. He felt it could be handled with some other type of means, whether it is a flagman or traffic enforcement through the police department or whatever. He said from a public safety standpoint, he would like to see it stay open because the fire trucks would have an extremely hard _tine making the turns and such and with additional traffic they will have in the curves, it will clog.bverything up out there. see END OF COMMENTS Me 3 Past b" Mtamtss of August 25 . 1987 iyor Pro tam Howard thanked everyone for their input and expressions. He asked if there is anyone else who �oa1d lib to suggest something or just to speak to the Council. No one else wished to speak so Mayor Pro Tem Inward closed the hearing and went on with the agenda items. If CLOSE THE HEARING AND CONSIDER ORDINANCE ORDERING THE CLOSURE OF THE ROADWAY AS REQUESTED Mayor Pro Tem Howard then presented the ordinance that would provide that that portion of Old Colony Road from Goodrich Drive to Elm Avenue /U.S. Highway 190 East be closed during school hours. Councilmember Green made the motion that the Council not pass the ordinance and that it be denied and Councilmember Bell seconded the ,etiot. Discussion: Councilmember Green stated that a traffic count was done on Old Colony Road and it was found that even during non - school periods in July, there was an average of about 3,000 automobiles a day using Old !Colony Road and to redirect Just 3,000 automobiles a day, some of which may travel that road before and after Iscaoo: hours, it should be noted that Goodrich, Elm and 11th Street are not really Prepared for anything like seven 1.300 additional cars a day in non - school periods and during school, there is likely to be even more traffic ' partly because of the decision the school made with regard to closing of School Road and making it more difficult to deliver children to the elementary school initially; so part of the problem is of their own making. He said ,tiffs ::es not make it any easier for them after the fact in regard with how to deal with the children, but the ,alterative of closing a public road. with all the reasons these people have given, in addition to the amount of ,traffic that would be redirected through a neighborhood, he thinks this would be an inappropriate use of city facilities. He said he for one is speaking against the proposal to close the road. Councilmember Gaines noted she appreciates the concerns expressed this evening and she agrees with Council - ember Green in that it seems to her that in doing this, we would have solved maybe one problem, but created, ac:ording to what we have heard tonight, quite a few more. She felt there is bound to be a solution to this problem-- something that is not quite as drastic as this would be. She suggested that the city have a committee tz, meet with the school to look into the other possibilities, noting we are certainly all concerned for the safety 'of the children while at the same time we are concerned for the safety of the elderly also. She noted she too would vote against this ordinance. Councilmember Bell also thanked the people for their presentations. He asked Mr. Pipes if this is too close 'te an intersection to put up another stop sign because that strikes him as being a very appropriate way to handle matter. Mr. Pipes said a stop sign at any intersection would be plausible, but a stop sign in the middle 'of a block where there is no intersection would be terribly inappropriate. He said the city may be able to put 'a stop sign where Goodrich intersects Old Colony Road and make a three -way stop there if we had any suggestions, laccident history, etc. at that location, but we do not, and the net effect would be a stopping the traffic and ;then starting it up again as it enters the school district's property itself. He said this would be less non- standard than a stop sign in the middle of a block there by the gymnasium. He said children are schooled and ,drilled on pedestrian safety, crossing the street, etc. from kindergarten on up. The biggest problem he said in this particular location is that the gym is in the middle of a block - -it is not a corner or an intersection and so is non- standard to begin with. He said it is there by virtue of history and to take the kids up to the ;corner and cross where it is proper to cross is asking a little bit too much for junior high age kids - -on the ;other hand, putting a stop sign in the middle of a block is going to create problems as there will be sudden !stops where there is no logical reason to stop and it is almost an open invitation to get them in the middle of (the crosswalk. Councilmember Bell asked about a pedestrian activated signal. Councilmember Green asked about something similar to what was done at the west wing at Mance Park with the flagman. Mr. Pipes said that same ;flagman is now working 7th Street on over at the Westmoreland Building at the present time. He said this person Os a school district employee that shepherds the children back and forth across the street. He said both areas are exactly the same situation. being in the middle of a block. Councilmember Barrett said he is concerned about this problem and he feels that we have solved some problems in slowing the traffic down on 7th Street as it comes down the hill where there is a definite incline by putting 'up the blinking lights during school hours. He felt this would maybe help slow people down at the gym and have a sign there that gives right- of-way to pedestrians. Councilmember Knotts thanked the people for coming to the meeting. He said he rode over the neighborhood and one thing he would like to see the city try to do is to up the priority on some street work and possibly look at bringing Old Colony Road up to the standards of the rest of the streets out there with curb and gutter and improvement of the pavement. He was in favor of working out something jointly with Dr. Tacker, with either a Sand- operated traffic light or a flagman or a crosswalk. He felt the city and school can work together to solve ;the problems out there. He asked that in the bond issue on streets that this street be brought up on the priori list. Mr. Pipes said we'll see what that looks like at the capital budget meeting discussions next Tuesday night to see -how that actually falls in the five year priority list. Councilmember Carter noted he has watched this neighborhood come in and heard someone on Council say this is 'a Setter turn out than we get on zoning or some other city problems and issues. He said he grew up in a place and ;tiffs where this neighborhood would not have been welcomed at City Hall. He said he feels it is really nice to see that we have come at least that far and he welcomed them and their community spirit and activism. He said he hoped they will come back for other issues in the city as well. Councilmember Carter said in politics we are `often making a choice between values and we are making a choice here between a neighborhood's needs and the children's needs and therefore there to no perfect choice on that. He said he agrees with what he hears being said on the Council and that is that we are going to do something, but it is not going to be to close the road. He said as soon as we vote, then we'll need to talk about how we are going to protect the children's safety. He thanked all those present for being here. Mayor Pro Tem Howard then asked for a vote on the motion on the floor. All were in favor and the motion -oasked unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Howard noted then the ordinance fails to pass and the road will not be closed. He said the city realizes its responsibility where safety is concerned and welcomes the opportunity to meet with Dr. Tacker and other officials to see what we can work out. (The Council took a 15 minute break) CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ON PARKING TO REDUCE THE TIME FOR PARKING AROUND THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER OF THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE AREA TO ONE HOUR LIMIT Mr. Pipes noted earlier this spring the Council considered an amendment to the downtown parking for the area around the interior of the courthouse square itself to allow parking spaces and room for the people, expecially on Monday, who would be in attendance at the courthouse at the social security office. He said it was brought to their attention that what we did in doing this is to simply move the cars that were spending i most of the day on the inside of the square to the outside of the square in front of the businesses that _ ' generally depend upon those parking spaces for patrons. He said the request has been forthcoming that the.city consider making the parking restrictions uniform around both the inside and the outside of the downtown square itself —one hour limit on the outside all the ray around and 30 minutes on the inside on Sam Youston Avenue ind llth Street and one hour on University and 12th Streets. Mr. Pipes then presented the ordinance, the caption of which is as follows: I i ORDINANCE NO. 87 -19 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 12, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, OF ITS CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY ESTABLISHING PARKING LIMIT ZONES ON POR- TIONS OF SAM HOUSTON AVENUE, UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 11TH STREET AND 12TH STREET; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF UP TO $200 PER DAY FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE PARKING ZONES; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 87 -19 as captioned above and Councilmember Knotts seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER BID FOR POLICE VEHICLE TO GOODMAN DODGE FOR A 1986 DODGE AIRES IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,800 Mr. Pipes, City Manager, advised the city did take bids on August 5 for used or rental vehicles that could be used for undercover work in the Police Department, noting the city has purchased vehicles of this type in the past and they have served us satisfactorily. He then presented the recommendation of the Police Chief, Hank Eckhardt, Jr. for the 1986 Dodge Aires in the amount of $5,800 from Goodman Dodge, which was originally bid at 86,000, but due to a rental of it since that time, it has been driven an additional 2,000 miles which Mr. Goodman.. ' equates to a $200 value which he then deducted from the original bid price in order to arrive at the 85,800 cost, Mr. Pipes said budgeted funds in the amount of 86,825 are available and he recommended approval. Councilmember Gaines made the motion to approve of this purchase and Councilmember Hammock seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Bell asked what the total mileage of this car is. Mr. Pipes said it was 30,000 miles. Councilmember Carter asked If the city often purchases cars that have 30.000 miles on them. Mr. Pipes said the city purchases all of its police cars, or has for the last several years, as used vehicles. The Department of Public Safety vehicles that we purchased from Austin had between 75,000 and 80,000 miles on them which is very high mileage but they had been very well maintained and reconditioned over there. He said these cars at 30,000 are considered to be at very Low mileage and as an undercover car, are particularly unofficial because they do not look like a police car. He said we don't have to drive these very fast as it is not a matter of an emergency. Councilmember Carter asked what a used DPS vehicle would cost at that high mileage and Mr. , Pipes responsed about $3,000. All were in favor of the motion on the floor and it passed unanimously. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN FOR CREDIT SOME INVENTORIED CLAY PIPE TO DICKEY CLAY FOR $2,038.10 Mayor Pro Tem Howard presented this item for the Council's consideration. Gene Pipes, City Manager, adviseac j the Council that the Purchasing Agent, Georgia Stark, has visited with Mr. Howard Pressler of Dickey Clay in reference to returning or receiving a credit on some 4 ", 6" and 8" clay pipe. This clay pipe has been in stock 1 on the pipe yard for at least five years, it was noted. The Purchasing Agent stated in her memorandum of August 14, 1987 that the City has 83,436.25 tied up in this pipe and to return it will mean a loss of $1,398.15 as Dickey Clay would have to restock, repalletize and rebind the pipe for shipping. Her memo also noted that the pipe has been on the yard for such a long period of time that it is beginning to lose its resilience and the gaskets are getting soft. Ms. Stark advised if the city keeps the pipe on the yard much longer, it will be ruined and the city will be unable to return it for any credit of any kind. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to authorize the City Manager to return for credit this inventoried clay pipe to Dickey Clay for $2,038.10 and Councilmember Knotts seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Green suggested if there is more, that we do the same. Mr. Pipes said the city will continue to look very care- fully. Councilmember Barrett noted it does not have to be pipe either. Upon a vote on the motion on the floor, it passed unanimously. REVIEW THE MONTHLY TAX REPORT, THE COMPARISON OF SALES TAX REVENUES AND BUDGET REPORT ENDING JUNE 30, 1987 The City Manager advised these reports were being provided to the Council for their information and that no formal action on them is required. The monthly tax report for July of 1987 indicated the total percentage collected of the 1986 tax levy was 92.87 percent, or 91,902,942.40 with delinquent collections being at 32.06 d percent, or $68.069.60. The sales tax revenue comparison for the last four fiscal years was presented to be as follows: FY 83 -84: $1,460,699.29; FY 84 -85: $1,532,475.83; FY 85 -86: $1,531,518.06; and FY 86 -87: $1,377,665.09. The budget report ending June 30, 1987 showed expenditures vs. appropriations to -date for all city depart- ments. CONSIDER THE QUARTERLY BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TO FY 86 -87 BUDGET Mr. Pipes then presented the documentation listing the budget adjustments for all areas of the city for the Council's consideration. After a review of the adjustments, Councilmember Knotts made the motion to approve them as presented and Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT- -GENE PIPES Proposal to TDC Board for Three Correctional Units -- Request has been received Mr. Pipes, City Manager, advised the Council he received by hand delivery yesterday an invitation to sub- mit a proposal to the TDC Board for their consideration on the location of three correctional units to be funded , during the biennium upcoming for the State of Texan. He said the proposal needs to be in on September 21. The City will be working with the Chamber of Commerce, Walker County officials, and other Interested individuals and , groups who have a particular concern about this, he said. He said these proposals are to be site specific and there is a maximum security unit and two intermediate pre - release centers. He said any of these facilities will be a benefit to the local community in that both maximum security and the pre - release centers will employ a considerable number of people. Mr. Pipes said he will be bringing additional information back Pot' the Council's endorsement prior to returning it to TDC for their consideration. He said we have beea waiting on this and expecting it now for some tine. He said he also feels that all this new construction is costiogent upon the state's sev bond issue Ming passed is November. He said he feels it is appropriate for Huntsville to step up the line and sake a very respectable effort to try to secure additional units here. Pogo 934 look '0" ltfaet•s of August 25, 1967 MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT - -PERCY HOWARD, JR. ion 14 Meeting Mayor Pro tem Howard advised he attended • TML Region 14 meeting on August 20 in LaPorte. The focus of that ing was on the upcoming meeting in Fort Worth, October 8 -11, 1987 with a great deal of emphasis placed on the that all the member cities need to carry out the program as Region 14 feels it should. He said the point 1 as brought out that we (cities) lost some ground in this legislature simply because member cities did not stick :gether and did not have a well organized plan to support the needs of the cities -- particularly the struggle ..th the tort situation. He said it was felt that statewide, the cities need to really participate and that ' ;ays to us that we certainly should attend the upcoming annual TML meeting. He said it is also not too late to any resolutions our city may have that it wishes the Till to consider for support in the next legislature.; COUNCIL ACTION -venue 0 -- Speedsters -- Sign Needed for Children at Play Councilmember Barrett said on Avenue O, where it tops out south of 19th Street, cars have been going :-rough there at a fast rate of speed and a sign is needed in that area to slow them down because there are :.ildren in that area playing. He said when the motorists reach the top of that hill, they keep up their steed until they get to the stop sign. He asked for some sort of sign that reads: "Slow -- Watch for Children. 'ter -.al Park /Crosstimbers Stop Sign -- Temporary or Legal? Councilmember Green said he recalls this stop sign was to be a temporary installation until made permanent., e asked if that is correct. Mr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney, said than is correct. He said these type of interim installations for a trial basis are allowed to accumulate until there are a sufficient number, or every :aree or four months, they are then all lumped together in an ordinance to be made permanent installations, if :mat is the desire of the city. Councilmember Green asked what the time limit is as he has been getting some mixed feelings with regard to that stop sign - -some positive and some negative - -and before we put this on the agenda to be considered permanent, he would like to know about it ahead of time. Mr. Bounds said the master traffic ordinance should be coming up soon. It was noted the temporary or experimental traffic regulations for 1 emergencies, special conditions or investigations with the approval of the city manager are to remain effective or to exceed 90 days. Councilmember Green said he noticed the pavement is being repainted and stripped which would make it appear that it is a permanent installation already. He said it is not observed as readily as some :ther stop signs. Mr. Pipes said it is one of those rather non - standard intersection installations where people do not expect to find a stop sign. Councilmember Green said it has created, at least, a few problems because zf the expectation that people are going to stop and then they don't. He asked that he be informed when this is going to be on the agenda. Mr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney, advised he will bring this ordinance back on September 8, 1987. Councilmember Barrett said perhaps a "Slow- -Watch the Children" sign w111 be more appropriate here than a stop sign. Councilmember Green said they have some of those signs there already. Financial Problems Throughout Southwest Councilmember Gary Bell noted in traveling recently throughout the Southwest, he noted the financial prob- lems we have been experiencing lately are not unique to our area as everywhere he went, the newspapers were full of various strategies to try to make the books balance in Albequerque and Cimmaron and various other cities. Policy-- Handling trees in city rights -of -way- -date for discussion Councilmember Bell asked if the date has been set for the discussion of the policy of the city on how to handle the trees in rights -of -way as we put in water and sewer lines. Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, advised that next Tuesday evening, September 1, the Council Meeting will focus specifically on the capital improvements zudget, of which, of course, the reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration of the water, sewer, streets, _ralnage, etc. deals with the right - of-way question raised earlier. He said the City Manager's budget message :ried to accentuate several policy questions that hinge on the particular projects and activities the city had : riginally planned in next year's capital budget. He said we had hoped that since there are not alot of dollars to talk about that we could focus on those policy questions - -use of the available right -of -way, whether we are :Ding to be able to resolve the problems of the low pressure areas at the expense of working in neighborhood Mont yards, etc. and those sorts of interrelated problems, all of which work through a capital budget and capital improvements program and those policy issues are part of the whole thing. He said next Tuesday night :he Council should plan to roll up their sleeves s n d talk about the capital budget, but moreover, pro - Sably the policies related to that capital budget more than just the pure dollars. He said it will be a work session format. Financial Aid for Gibbs- Powell House -- Museum Councilmember Knotts said he has been contacted by several people concerning possible city financial aid for the Gibbs- Powell House to help pay the utilities. Councilmember Carter said he hoped we would look at this since we are looking at the budget and it seems to him that a part of the tourist budget could and should be ..sed for historical preservation, museums, etc. and that we should be able to find some of that money for Gibbs - Powell, for the Black History Museum, for the Prison Museum, etc. He hoped the Council as a whole will begin :o take those things into consideration for some of our tourist dollars. Mr. Pipes said the tourist budget will 1n all liklihood be presented and discussed in the following week (September 8) as far as its impact on the general fund and all the outside input of that and the YMCA proposal, etc. :ommendations to Mayor Pro Tem as Presiding Officer Councilmember Knotts commended Mr. Howard on his handling of this meeting, noting in fact that "we're going to ask you back." MEDIA QUESTIONS After some questions for clarification from the media, the meeting then adjourned. Ry1Aectfully submitted, Ruth DeSha , ty August 25, 1967