Minutes - 09/03/2013
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 3DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2013, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 6:00 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Lydia Montgomery, Keith D. Olson, Don H. Johnson, 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_____________________________
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Loll gave an invocation and guest pledger Sara Cox of AKAdemy Young
2.
Emerging Leaders led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
a. National Payroll Week recognition of Liesa Hackett and Geri Mickens, Finance Department
b. Recognition of AEP award, Billie Smith, Procurement Manager, and Finance Department
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2013-16, designating Deputy City Secretary
Kristin Edwards as Assistant Public Information Officer for the City of Huntsville, and as a Council-authorized
Assistant to the City Secretary. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Councilmember Loll made a motion to approve Resolution 2013-16 and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The
motion passed unanimously.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
City Council will hold a public hearing to receive citizen input regarding the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Annual Budget.
Mayor Woodward opened the public hearing at 6:08 p.m.
John Smither, Cheryl Spencer, and Pam Connor asked the budget include a full-time manager for Main Street.
Mayor Woodward closed the public hearing at 6:14 p.m.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Kenneth Callahan asked that a POW-MIA flag event be held the weekend of September 20.
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 Workshop and Regular Session held on August 20, 2013. \[Lee
Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Approve Resolution 2013-15 designating The Huntsville Item as the official newspaper for the City of Huntsville
for FY 2013-14, annual item. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
c. Consider accepting an award of $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts Grant. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben,
Community Development Specialist\]
Councilmember Humphrey 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 approve decision packages for the FY13-14 budget. \[Matt
Benoit, City Manager\] (page numbers given are behind tab 6 in the budget notebook)
1. Automatic Meter Replacement (AMR) – p. 6-1
2. Old Colony Road Phase V Sanitary Sewer Extension – p. 6-2
3. Old Colony Road Phase VI Sanitary Sewer Extension – p. 6-3
4. Water Tank Rehabilitation – p. 6-4
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5. Avenue C (13 Street-16 Street) – p. 6-5
6. Main Street, Sam Houston Avenue, Block 3B – p. 6-6
7. Main Street, University Avenue, Block 7D – p. 6-7
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8. Bobby K. Marks (Bowers Boulevard to 17 Street) – p. 6-8
9. East Mosley Lane Reconstruction – p. 6-9
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10. 7 Street (Old Madisonville Road and Avenue M) Reconstruction – p. 6-10
11. Elkins Lake Post Office Lift Station Rehab – p. 6-11
12. Avenue M (Avenue J to Sycamore Avenue) 18” Sewer line Replacement – p. 6-12
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13. Reinstate Professional Fireworks for July 4 Celebration – p. 6-13
14. Preparation for SAFER Grant Expiration – p. 6-14
15. Facilities Maintenance Needs Assessment – p. 6-15
16. Contribution Toward Walker County Public Safety Communications Center – p. 6-16
17. Capital Improvement Program Manager – p. 6-17
18. Reinstate Three Police Officer Positions – p. 6-20
19. Fire Equipment Set-aside Fund – p. 6-21
20. Implementation of Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential Recommendations Regarding Way-finding Signage and
Gateway Entry Signage – p. 6-22
21. Employee Benefit Incentives – p. 6-23
22. Citywide Continuation of Step & Grade Plan – p. 6-24
23. Wynne Home and Main Street Administrative Assistant Positions – p. 6-25
24. Contract Generator Service Technician – p. 6-26
25. Full-time Administrative Assistant to the Director of Tourism and Cultural Services – p. 6-27
26. Buxton SCOUT Software – p. 6-28
27. Full-time Human Resources Director – p. 6-29
28. Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Schedule – p. 6-30
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the decision packages as presented and was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. Councilmember Allen asked to pull 7(a)(23) and (26) for individual discussion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the decision package in item 7(a)(23) and was seconded by Councilmember
Humphrey. Councilmember Allen moved not to fund the two part-time positions but maintain fewer office hours until the
City is in an improved financial position. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services, said an employee was required to work on a full-time basis,
with 51% of their time used on behalf of Main Street, in order to maintain the state designation.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to postpone to a certain time (but did not give the time, the Mayor assumed without
objection that it was the next meeting) and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. Discussion continued on the
original main motion. The Mayor announced the item would be on the September 17 agenda. The motion to postpone
passed unanimously.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the decision package in item 7(a)(26) and was seconded by
Councilmember Montgomery. Councilmember Allen moved to amend so that the item not be funded and was seconded
by Councilmember Olson. Councilmember Montgomery moved to call the question. The amendment failed, 1-7,
Councilmember Allen voting in support. The main motion passed, 7-1, Councilmember Allen abstaining.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the decision package for the FY13-14 budget on
Citywide TMRS Plan Design Changes. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\] (page number 6-18 behind tab 6 in the budget
notebook)
(Councilmembers Allen and Humphrey chose to file Conflict of Interest forms and did not participate in the discussion or
vote on this item.) Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the decision package for the FY 13-14 budget on Citywide
TMRS Plan Design Changes and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the decision package for the FY13-14 budget on
Contribution to the Retiree Health Insurance PEB Trust. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\] (page number 6-19 behind
tab 6 in the budget notebook)
(Councilmember Allen chose to file a Conflict of Interest form and did not participate in the discussion or vote on this
item.) Councilmember Olson moved to approve the decision package for the FY 13-14 budget on Contribution to the
Retiree Health Insurance PEB Trust and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion passed unanimously, 7-
0.
d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2013-41, amending the City of Huntsville,
Texas Code of Ordinances, specifically Chapter 32 “Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions”; Section 32-23
“Unreasonably Loud Noises Prohibited”; providing for a penalty; making other provisions and findings thereto:
and declaring an effective date, second reading. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve Ordinance 2013-41, amending the City of Huntsville, Texas Code of
Ordinances, specifically Chapter 32 “Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions”; Section 32-23 “Unreasonably Loud Noises
Prohibited”; providing for a penalty; making other provisions and findings thereto: and declaring an effective date, and was
seconded by Councilmember Allen. Councilmember Olson moved to amend the Ordinance by removing the words
“amplified sound”. Without objection, discussion ensued. Councilmember Olson moved to postpone indefinitely and was
seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously.
e. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve awarding a one-year contract, with an option for one
additional term, for land surveyors on an as-needed basis. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Community Development
Specialist\]
Councilmember Emmett moved to award a one-year contract, with an option for one additional term, for land surveyors to
GEO Solutions, on an as-needed basis, and was seconded by Councilmembers Olson and Montgomery. The motion
passed unanimously.
f. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to award a one-year contract, with an option for one additional
term, for home inspectors and title companies, on an as-needed basis. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Community
Development Specialist\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to award a one-year contract, with an option for one additional term, for home
inspections to Cinco Q Home Inspections as primary and A Plus Home Inspections as secondary, and to Walker County
Title Company for title closing, on an as-needed basis and was seconded by Councilmembers Johnson and Loll. The
motion passed unanimously.
g. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to approve renewals of the City’s
health insurance program and authorize payment for same. \[Missy Davidson, Interim Director of Human
Resources\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the renewals of the City’s health insurance program and authorize payment
for same as presented, and was seconded by Councilmember Loll. The motion passed unanimously.
8. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2013-37 amending Ordinance 2011-47 to
redistrict the City’s wards, second reading. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved to approve Ordinance 2013-37 amending Ordinance 2011-47 to redistrict the City’s wards and
was seconded by Councilmembers Johnson, Olson, and Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously.
b. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
City Manager Benoit had no comments.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
Major Rob McCormick spoke in support of the proposed POW-MIA celebration and announced additional upcoming veterans’
events.
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 Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff for which no
action will be discussed or taken.)
The Mayor announced CrimeStoppers would hold a crime prevention workshop at the Sheriff’s Department on September 28.
The Mayor said thatthe Walker County Criminal Justice Community Planning Group will meet at 9:30 am on October 1st at the
Walker County Storm Shelter to focus on fixing local issues in the criminal justice system. He said those interested can call
David Anderson at 936-577-2443, for more information.
Mayor Woodward reminded all that October 1st is National Night Out in Texas and that information would be on the Huntsville
Police Department’s Facebook page. He noted that because the Council would like to take part in the community events on
Oct. 1, the Council meeting will begin at 5 pm, rather than 6 pm. The Mayor reminded all that the new bi-weekly digital
newsletter, “This Week in Huntsville,” is available on the City web site. Mayor Woodward said photo ID will be required in
Texas beginning with the November 5th election and that information about this is available on the City web site and at City
Hall, as well as on the County web site.
Councilmember Emmett encouraged attendance at the SHSU football game and the Mayor wished the Hornets well, also.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, 551.071– to receive legal
advice on condemnation proceedings in relation to Gardner and Cooper. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Mayor Woodward adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 7:21 p.m. The Council reconvened at 8:01 p.m.
13. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on resolving condemnation in relation to Gardner and Cooper.
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the settlement less attorney’s fees and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey.
The motion passed, 5-3, Mayor Woodward and Councilmembers Emmett and Allen voting against.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:03 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary