Minutes - 08/06/2013
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 6DAY OF AUGUST 2013, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:30 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Lydia Montgomery, Keith Olson, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Clyde Loll
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Joe Emmett, Don Johnson
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
WORKSHOP \[4:30 PM\]
a. The City Council will consider a presentation and discuss the City’s current employee and retiree health
insurance plan and provisions.
b. The City Council will consider a presentation and discuss the various plan provisions available through the
Texas Municipal Retirement System (TRMS).
(Councilmember Allen signed a Conflict of Interest form and did not attend the workshop. Councilmember Humphrey signed a
Conflict of Interest form for Workshop item b and did not participate in that portion. The PowerPoint presentation for item (a) is
available on the City web site. Due to lack of a quorum, item b was not handled.) Missy Davidson, Interim Director of Human
Resources, presented on the medical insurance concerns for the City, the process and results of employee information and
feedback sessions, and staff recommendations for the FY13-14 budget.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Council member Montgomery gave an invocation and guest pledgers from 2013 Boys State -
Todd Christian and Chris Morris – led the pledges.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Russell Martinez introduced Payton Roberts, the newest member of Congressman Joe Brady’s staff. Bette Nelson spoke in
support of staffing the Main Street Coordinator position.
4. 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 Workshop and Regular Session held on July 16, 2013 and the Special
Session held on July 23, 2013. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2013-33 amending the City of Huntsville, Texas Code of Ordinances, specifically Chapter 26
“Law Enforcement”, reaffirming the existence of the Police Department; and making other provisions and
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findings thereto; and declaring an effective date, 2 reading. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety\]
c. Approve Ordinance 2013-36 to amend the budget for FY 12-13. \[Steve Ritter, Interim Finance Director\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the Consent Agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The
motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2013-34 calling the November 5, 2013
municipal general election for the purpose of electing a Mayor and four (4) Ward Councilmembers, and calling a
special election to fill a vacancy to elect a Councilmember At-Large Position 1, single reading required. \[Lee
Woodward, City Secretary\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve Ordinance 2013-34 and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey.
The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2013-14 authorizing the placement of speed
cushions in the 2200–2400 Blocks of Avenue S. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve Resolution 2013-14 and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The
motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the Director of Public Works to approve the renewal of
Industrial User (IU) Discharge Permit 0100 for Gardner Glass Products, Incorporated, first reading. \[Carol Reed,
Director of Public Works\]
Carol Reed, Director of Public Works, noted this was part of the process for the City’s Industrial Pretreatment Program.
d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2013-35 creating a limited parking zone on
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University Avenue between 14 and 15 Streets, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and
Economic Development\]
There was no discussion on this item.
e. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider a Utility Extension Request from Roham Darvishi for a
sanitary sewer line extension located at 3233 Woodward Drive, including City portion of $4,411.76. \[Aron
Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the utility extension request and was seconded by Councilmembers Humphrey
and Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2013-13 in support of a proposal by Entergy
Texas, Inc. and ITC Holdings Corporation regarding the change of ownership and control of transmission
business, transfer of certification rights, and related relief in Public Utility Commission Docket No. 41223, upon
the guarantee of enumerated conditions. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Mayor Woodward moved to approve Resolution 2013-13 and was seconded by Councilmember Loll. The motion passed
unanimously, 6-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider proposals for Charter amendments for the November
ballot. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved to include the Charter Review Committee’s recommendations and wording for Charter Sections
2.01(a) and (b), 4.07, 4.12, 11.13, 11.17, and 14.18 on the November ballot and was seconded by Councilmember
Montgomery. The motion passed, 5-1, Councilmember Allen abstaining.
Mayor Woodward moved to include the Charter Review Committee’s recommendations and wording for Charter Section
11.02(f) on the November ballot and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed, unanimously, 6-
0.
Mayor Woodward moved to include in Section 4.02 a requirement that an individual has to be a registered voter in the City
of Huntsville for one year prior to serving on the Huntsville City Council and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The
Mayor said his motion would do away with the current age and residency requirements. Councilmember Olson asked to
withdraw his second of the original motion. Councilmember Allen said that he would second the motion. The motion
failed, 3-3, the Mayor, Councilmember Humphrey, and Councilmember Allen voting for the motion.
Councilmember Olson moved 4.02 that requiring voter registration in the City for one year. The motion was not
seconded, the City Attorney was asked to research possible residency requirements, and Councilmember Olson withdrew
his motion.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve nominations for City boards, committees, and
commissions. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Huntsville Arts Commission Huntsville Public Library Board Wayne Keen
Betsy Maloney Eddene Smith Bill Gibson
Margaret Smith John McManners
Huntsville Main Street Advisory
Michael Henderson
Board
Youth Advisory Board
Robert Ernst, Jr.
Board of Adjustments and Laura Solomon
Sam Moak
Appeals Shane Rankin
Laura Bruns
Helen Belcher Michelle Spencer
Karl Collins
Jerry Moorer Vinessa Mundorff
Helen Belcher
Susan Thompson
Huntsville Cemetery Advisory Shannon Duncan
Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board Brenda Grahmann
Board
Douglas Wright Danielle Hill
Nate Grigsby
Kay King Mitchell Joseph Godinez
Planning and Zoning Commission
Joyce Robinson Devon Olivier
Tommy Cummings
Lauren Waters
Bill Barry
Huntsville Housing Authority
Dr. Ross Lovell Walker County Communications
Veterans Affairs Advisory Board
Joe Soliz Board
David Yebra
Carolyn Lewis Matt Benoit
Bill Butler
Jeff Dugas
Pete Townsend
Leta Reiner
Mayor Woodward moved to approve his nominees (above). The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to update the Council on the Buxton contract. \[Councilmember
Allen\]
Councilmember Allen asked for an update on implementation. Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development demonstrated the use of the SCOUT database.
e. City Manager’s Report
1. The City Manager, City Attorney and/or other members of the City staff will provide an update on the sale of
property located at 2257 Sam Houston Avenue, commonly known as the “Army Reserve Building,” as per the
requirements in Resolution #2013-11.
(This item was handled after item 9.) Councilmember Humphrey moved to adjourn the Council into Executive
Session under Section 551.071 and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:12 pm.
The Council reconvened at 8:50 pm. There was no additional action.
2. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
(This item was handled prior to item (e)(1).) Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development, gave
presentations on a proposed historic preservation ordinance and consideration of guidelines for signs height
limitations. Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety, discussed his research in preparing a draft noise
ordinance. Dr. Sherry McKibben spoke on grant requirements for well generators. Linda Dodson, City Librarian,
updated the Council on a potential reduction in library hours due to erosion in service without additional staffing.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
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.)
The Mayor encouraged voter awareness of the new requirements for Photo ID and directed those interested to the web site
and the Walker County voter registrar’s office. He also reminded the public to register for the City’s digital newsletter This
Week in Huntsville, available on the City web site. Councilmember Olson congratulated Aron Kulhavy and Rachel Smith on
their recent nuptials. Councilmember Humphrey
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary