MIN CC 02/05/2008CITY COUNCIL MEETING of FEBRUARY 5, 2008 BOOK "U" 90
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 5TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2008, IN THE CITY
ALL, 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 members present:
OUNCILMEMBERS: J. Turner, Wayne Barrett, Jack Choate, Mickey S. Evans, Clarence Griffin , Melissa Mahaffey, Jim
Willett, Mac Woodward, and Dalene Zander
FFICERS: Gene Pipes, Interim City Manager; Stephanie Brim, City Secretary; and Thomas A. Leeper, City Attorney
ORK SESSION [5:00- 5:55pm]
ity Council conducted a work session to discuss the Montgomery Meadows Phase 11 request for resolution of City support, as
resented by Dale Brown, Engineer; and the potential property lease for sludge disposal, as presented by Bill Daugette,
Director of Public Utilities.
REGULAR SESSION
ALL TO ORDER [6:OOpm]
Mayor Turner called the meeting to order. [Note: Councilmember Choate was present from this point forward.]
LEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to US and TEXAS FLAGS, INVOCATION
ouncilmember Griffin led the invocation.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on minutes of January 8 and 18, 2008.
b. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the bid for two (2) twelve -yard dump trucks.
1. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the bid for two (2) backhoes.
d. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the bid for pipe supplies.
Councilmember Woodward moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Councilmember Willett seconded the
motion. The motion passed 9 -0.
UBLIC COMMENTS (Agenda items only.)
Darrell Hall. Mr. Hall requested information from Mr. Pipes on the City's past and continued participation, especially funding,
or the TTC /I -69 corridor.
STATUTORY AGENDA
9. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on calling the May 10, 2008 municipal election for the purpose of
electing the four at -large councilmember positions; and update on the parkland issue.
Ordinance No. 2008 -02 orders a municipal election to be held on the 10" day of May, 2008, for the purpose of
electing four at -large councilmembers and associated election matters.
Additionally, there is not an item included with this ordinance regarding the boundary/parkland issue. After some
research, the City Attorney and City Secretary request to postpone this item for consideration to a future ballot.
Councilmember Choate moved to approve Ordinance 2008 -02 ordering a municipal election to be held on the 10'"
day of May, 2008 for the purpose of electing four Councilmembers from the respective at-large Positions One Two
Three and Four designating the places and manner of holding the election and providing for the posting and publication
of notice: and Councilmember Griffin seconded the motion. The motion passed 9 -0.
b. Presentation, discussion and/or possible action on the joint election agreement with Walker County, Huntsville
Independent School District and Walker County Hospital District.
Councilmember Choate moved to approve the joint election agreement with Walker County Huntsville
Independent School District and Walker County Hospital District for the May 10 2008 general election; and
Councilmember Zander seconded the motion. The motion passed 9 -0.
D. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the request for participation from Methodist Retirement Communities
for City participation in water /wastewater service extensions. [Note: Mayor Turner and Councilmember Woodward each
filed an affidavit to abstain from voting and left Council Chambers during the discussion and subsequent vote.]
Councilmember Evans moved to appoint Councilmember Choate to preside over the deliberation of this item in the
absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem; and Councilmember Willett seconded the motion The motion passed 7 -0.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of FEBRUARY 5, 2008 BOOK "U" 91
Methodist Retirement Communities requests City participation in the design, construction and administration of
water and sewer line construction for the proposed Ella Smither Geriatric Center. They want to construct the water:
sewer lines in away that would benefit other areas around their development. They have even worked with the Belle
the property to secure utility easements as part of their land purchase. Also, they have agreements with adjac
properties for utility easements and financial participation.
The estimated amount to install water and sewer lines to the development is approximately $110,000. They hi
$70,000 worth of contributions towards the cost of this work. They are asking the City to consider contributing $40,(
to the project.
In addition to the utilities, they have asked the City to consider waiving any associated permit fees that will
required for the development. With the preliminary information provided to City staff concerning the development,
estimated permit fees will be approximately $25,000. Again, this is only an estimate and could be more or less than
estimated amount.
A work session with City Council was held on January 18, 2008, to discuss this proposed development and
various incentives that could be considered as a contribution to the project.
motion. The motion passed 6 -1 with Councilmember Evans voting against.
voting against.
[Note: Mayor Turner and Councilmember Woodward returned to Council Chambers following the vote.]
d. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on changes to the City's fee schedule, adding the septic wastereceivii
station.
Based on conversations with local septic haulers there is a community need for a septic waste disposal facili
Prior to committing to a full scale operation, a pilot study was conducted in order to determine the feasibility of a haul,
septic waste receiving station. The pilot studywas conducted from October 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008. The results
that study revealed that there is a viable market in this area for this service. Three surrounding wastewater sep
accepting locations charge .06¢ per gallon for waste deposited.
The revision to the Wastewater Services fee schedule in the City of Huntsville Budget for Fiscal Year 2007 -201
Exhibit "E" will have no fiscal impact or a need for a funding source.
e. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the elimination of an aerator structure and relocation of inlet pipes
Palm Street water plant.
During the renovations of the two 1 MG storage tanks at the Palm Street water plant the aerator structure w
inspected by the contract engineer, Jim Dunham, and found to be in need of repair. As a result of that inspection, and
an effort to obtain an estimated cost, a line item was included in the bids solicited for painting and renovation of the 2N
hydropillar. The bid price of repairing the structure was $80,000. Mr. Dunham recommended that the City evaluate tl
need for the structure, and consider removing it rather than spend the money to have it repaired.
After discussing the issue with staff and two consulting engineers familiar with our water system it has bei
determined that the structure could be removed with no ill effects on the quality of the water. This determination
based on the fact that the structures were originally built when the City had shallow wells, and those wells were the sc
source of the water our citizens consumed. With the addition of polyphosphate at the wells and the completion of tl
Trinity River Authority surface water plant, the water at the Palm Street plant is now blended and mixed, reducing tl
odors and iron problems that had been associated with the water in the past.
It is the desire of staff to remove the aerator structure, install new meters on the raw water lines coming to Pal
Street from each of the wells, and move the inlet pipes at each of the two storage tanks. The meters will replace
existing 20" meter that is over 30 years old and moving the inlets will allow for better chlorine mixing while the water is
the tanks.
' Councilmember Griffin seconded the motion. The motion passed 9 -0.
f. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the proposed compensation adjustment to the municipal c
prosecutor contract. [ Note: Councilmember Choate fled an affidavit to abstain from voting, and left Council Chamt
during the discussion and subsequent vote.]
In 2005, the City and Walker County entered into an interlocal agreement which provided for the Walker Cot
District Attorney's Office to prosecute cases pending in the Huntsville Municipal Court. Compensation is based u
one -half of County's cost to provide an entry level prosecutor, including salary, benefits and overhead. The agreen
provides, "For annual renewals, the contract price will be automatically adjusted for any change in the cost of the e
level prosecutor position which would result in a three per cent (3 %) or less increase in the contract price over
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of FEBRUARY 5, 2008 BOOK "U"
92
previous year; greater increases may only be made by written mutual agreement of the parties." In the 2006 -2007 anc
2007 -2008 fiscal years, Walker County's cost for an entry level prosecutor rose more than 3% each year. However
Walker County did not request an increase in 2006 -2007. The County now requests an approximate 6% increase which
would result in an annual contract amount of $34,282.45, which is an increase of $1,967.95 from the original amount o'
$32,314.50.
Walker County has provided sufficient information to the City's Finance Department to confirm the County's cos'
has increased at least by the amount requested. The fiscal impact is an additional amount of $1,967.95 annually to be
funded out of 101 - 115 - 55070.
Chambers following the vote.]
Presentation, discussion and/or possible action on the proposed budget amendments to the FY 2006 -07
budget.
the motion. The motion passed 9 -0.
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the proposed budget amendments to the FY 2007 -08 adopted
budget.
7R / CITY COUCILMEMBER I CITY MANAGER REPORT
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the appointment of Councilmember Wayne Barrett to the TXDOT ,
Transportation Committee.
Mayor Turner moved to appoint Councilmember Wayne Barrett to the TXDOT Transportation Committee; and
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on regarding scheduling issues for possible Ward 1 special election.
No action was taken on this item City Secretary Stephanie Brim presented a brief update on the logistics of the special
election.
-IC COMMENTS (Open.)
ern Irving. Ms. Irving requested City funding to continue to operate and /or potentially purchase the Community C
Center to continue operations with action on the February 19, 2008 meeting.
a King. Ms. King stated a point of clarification on the appointment of the Councilmember to the TXDoT committee
,ending for the TTC /1 -69 project.
2K SESSION [7:50 — 8:22pm]
City Council conducted a work session to discuss the city manager search and selection process, and provided
:tion in moving forward with the process to schedule presentations from Ron Cox Consulting, Arcus Public, The M
ip. [Note: Colin Baenziger & Associates was also added to the list of presenters.]
JRNMENT[8:22pm]
Turner adjourned the meeting.
City Secretary