MIN CC 08/04/2009CITY COUNCIL MEETING of August 4, 2009 BOOK "U"
THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS
AT 6:OOPM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: J. Turner, Tom Cole, Charles Forbus, Melissa Mahaffey, Lanny Ray, Mac
Woodward, Jack Wagamon, Wayne Barrett and Dalene Zander
OFFICERS PRESENT: Bill Baine, City Manager; Kristin Edwards, Deputy City Secretary; City Attorney Leonard
Schneider
a. Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting held on July 21. [Kristin Edwards, Deputy
REGULAR SESSION' [6:OOpm]
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Turner called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and
indivisible.
INVOCATION
Councilmember Barrett led the invocation.
3. PUBLIC HEARING - To receive comments from all interested persons in the proposed annexation of
approximately 10.649 acres being all that certain tract or parcel of land lying and being situated in the
PLEASANT GRAY LEAGUE, Abstract No. 24 in Walker County, Texas and being part of the 40.77 acre
tract described in the deed from MBM Designs and Robert A. Myers, Jr. to BCS Development
'
Company as recorded in Volume 813, Page 683 of the Official Records of Walker County, Texas
(O.R.W.C.)
A public hearing concerning the Brookview Annexation was held.
The only comment included was a written letter submitted by Charles Smither. Smither said he was
opposed to the annexation until all property in Huntsville was given basic services.
The public hearing was closed at 6:03 p.m.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Five comments were submitted.
Bobby Oates discussed Item 9e, related to fire protection for FM 980 and FM 247. He asked the Council to
support extension of the fire protection in the area.
Jerry Edgin, Nicole Paul, Rhonda Reddoch and Richard Hicks, all representatives of the Huntsville Girls'
Softball Association, each submitted comments in support of improvements to the girls' softball fields at Kate
Barr Ross Park. The group also discussed alternative provisions for the girls including the use of college and
high school fields.
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 from the City Council meeting held on July 21. [Kristin Edwards, Deputy
254
City Secretary]
b. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with the low bidder, Advantage USAA, in the
amount of $52,000. to repair the Airport terminal building roof. (Glenn E. Isbell, P.E., Director of
Public Works)
c. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement for the improvement and lease of land on
behalf of the City of Huntsville with Dr. Thomas Clark for the property located at 11`" Street and
Sam Houston Memorial Drive. (Matt Lumpkins, Interim City Services Director)
d. Approve budget amendments for fiscal year 2008.09. (Winston Duke, Director of Finance)
254
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of August 4, 2009 BOOK "U"
Councilmember Barrett pulled Item'b' for further discussion.
Councilmember Woodward verified that the budget amendments had been discussed during a meeting of the
Committee.
5111
and Mayor Pro Tern Ray seconded the motion.
Resolution # 2005 -15, Section 2 extending terms of the Huntsville Arts Commission
Councilmember Barrett discussed the Item, saying that he was not opposed to the Item itself. He said the concern he
voting membership from two (2) year to three (3) year terms. (M. Lumpkins)
had rested more in local firms who do not provide low bids during bid processes and then do not receive bids. He sZ
id
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
he understood it was necessary to get the best value from citizens' dollars and that being protectionist could be
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government code, Chapler
disadvantageous. At the same time, he said he would like to find a way to estimate or quantify the value of using locAl
is
City Secretary.
bidders during the bid process.
Mayor Turner indicated that the executive session would be held following the remz
1.
Mayor Turner, speaking as a local business owner, said state law allows a local bidder within five percent of a low b
if
Take action, if necessary, on the item 7a addressed during Executive Session.
to be awarded the bid on that basis.
9. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCILICITYMANAGER
! '
i
Barrett continued that community value should be considered when scoring bids.
Turner reminded the Council that the Charter Review Committee had been chosen at a prior meeting,
Mayor Turner noted that the City of Conroe awards bid points for having prior business history with the city.
255
Councilmember Forbus noted that the bid responses varied drastically and asked if all of the bids were for the same
type of repair, and Assistant City Manager Victor Pena addressed the Council to indicate that the bids were
comparable.
Councilmember Wagamon asked for specific details concerning the size of the roof being prepared and why the co
was set at $52,000. Pena discussed the various repairs needed, and Director of Public Utilities Glenn Isbell discuss
the materials being used to repair the roof. Mayor Turner indicated that, in his experience, the price range was not
unreasonable.'i
After several more minutes of discussion Mayor Pro Tern Ray called the question and asked for a vote and
Councilmember Woodward seconded the motion.
The original motion passed unanimously.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Second reading: Presentation, discussion, and possible action with respect to app ro
al
of the H.B. Toney Memorial Fire Station #4 construction contract to Teal Constructio
in
the amount of $1,386,000, consisting of the base bid plus alternate 1 & 2 for a b
k
exterior in lieu of metal wall panel exterior. (Tom Weger, Planning and Developm
nt
Superintendent)
b. Presentation, discussion, and/or possible approval of Resolution #2009 -23, amending
Resolution # 2005 -15, Section 2 extending terms of the Huntsville Arts Commission
voting membership from two (2) year to three (3) year terms. (M. Lumpkins)
The item was pulled.
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government code, Chapler
551, Section 551.074 - personnel matters regarding the appointment of Lee Woodward as
is
City Secretary.
Mayor Turner indicated that the executive session would be held following the remz
1.
8. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on the item 7a addressed during Executive Session.
9. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCILICITYMANAGER
! '
i
a. Update on the 2009 Charter Review Committee. (Mayor Turner/ Mayor Pro Tern Ray)
Turner reminded the Council that the Charter Review Committee had been chosen at a prior meeting,
d
255
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of August 4, 2009 BOOK "U"
Mayor Pro Tem Ray said the group had gotten organized and started working, and on their August 1
meeting, the group had considered five items and left them open in case a need arose to return to them. He
said unless change was perceived as truly necessary, the committee was leaning toward not making major
changes. He said only one of the five items considered, a two- reading rule, was received favorably.
Ray also said the re- instatement of the Mayors veto power and a change concerning the City Secretary's
office were also considered.
Ray said citizen input was also encouraged.
b. Presentation, discussion, and/or possible action creating by ordinance a Historic Landmarks
and Districts Zoning, as a part of the Comprehensive Zoning Plan. (Councilmember Mac
Woodward)
Councilmember Woodward said he added the item to propose a preservation ordinance, specifically to
designate historic landmarks and districts within the City of Huntsville. He said the item did not have anything
to do with Cultural District designation, and he said it did not create a district, but only a mechanism and
vehicle for implementing historic landmark and district designations. He said if the ordinance were passed,
nothing would happen until a historic commission was appointed to start formulating a plan for the
community.
No second to the motion was offered
c. Discussion of proposed addition of employees for budget year 2009 -2010. (Councilmember Jack
Wagamon)
Councilmember Wagamon said he wanted to discuss the increase in employee count during Fiscal. Year 09-
10. He said he did not feel that additional employees recommended by the City Manager should not be hired,
' but that the Council needed to strategically watch the growth of the government. He said he would like to see
the additional employees added while removing empty slots or by using other methods to keep a lid on the
growth of employment.
Mayor Turner said Fiscal Year 09 -10 represented his fifth budget, and that each year, personnel expenses
had increased more than revenues. He said the trend was not sustainable on a long -term basis.
Councilmember Mahaffey agreed with Wagamon and Turner, saying she would also advocate creative
means to limit the growth of personnel expenses. Councilmember Cole and Mayor Pro Tem Ray also agreed
with the other Council members.
City Manager Baine addressed the Council's concerns, saying one position, a grant writer, was being
contracted out, and two police positions which were to be paid for by grants were not being filled because of
a lack of those grant funds. He discussed one additional person to operate generators, and said that he
needed to be careful not to eliminate needed positions.
d. Discussion of capital improvements to girls' softball field at Kate Barr Ross Park. (J. Wagamon)
Councilmember Wagamon asked that the Council consider capital improvements to the girls' softball field at
Kate Barr Ross and work on the improvements in the near future.
Mayor Turner asked Wagamon to make a recommendation for a vacancy on the Parks Board, and Rhonda
Reddoch volunteered for the position.
Councilmember Woodward asked for cost information from the HGSA representatives, and one
representative said the total cost of the recommended improvements would be $49,198, of which the
organization was asking the City to cover approximately $37,000.
Parks Superintendent Matt Lumpkins also addressed the request. He indicated there was not money in the
budget at the present time for the improvements.
Councilmember Wagamon asked for a financial breakdown of the funds spent on boys' and girls' softball.
e. City Managers' report:
I. Fire protection for FM 980 and FM 247
ii. Discussion and direction of Fair of the Square
' Regarding item T Baine said he intended to put fire protection efforts for FM 980 in the FY 09 -10
budget, and to put the efforts for FM 247 into the FY 10 -11 budget. Planning and Development Division
Head Tom Wager said the first phase of improvements would bring seven fire hydrants from the split of
980 and 247, and phase two would include four additional fire hydrants off of two other areas.
Councilmember Wagamon asked about putting the improvements out for bids, and after Mayor Turner
explained how the process would work, he asked for an approximate time period for phase one.
256
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of August 4, 2009 BOOK "U"
two months on the outset. Councilmember Forbus said he thought work should be started as soon
as
possible.
Regarding item 'ii,' Baine addressed the upcoming Fair on the Square event as an upcoming event
involving cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Huntsville. He asked for
an
open and honest discussion related to the City's role in participating in the Fair on the Square and said
he was uneasy about the City's participation.
Councilmember Zander said she also felt uneasy about participating in the event, and said she
ielt
participating once more but perhaps not again after that would be best.
Councilmember Mahaffey said the event was originally a fundraiser for local charities and that it had
evolved into a fundraiser for a private organization.
Councilmember Forbus said the event was a community- drawing event, and that this year the
ity
should continue its standard level of involvement.
Mayor Pro Tem Ray said he felt uneasy supporting a fundraiser of a private organization as oppose
to
non -profit events.
Councilmember Barrett said he agreed with Forbus and also had concerns about continued participa
n
in the event by the City.
Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m., and the Council entered into executive sessior
authorized by Texas Government code, Chapter 551, Section 551.074 - personnel matters regarding
appointment of Lee Woodward as the City Secretary.
RECONVENE [8:08 p.m.]
Council reconvened from Executive Session at 8:08 p.m.
Councilmember Woodward was not present.
I re motion passed with an 8 -0 vote. ,
10. PUBLIC COMMENTS (open) i
No additional public comments were submitted.
11. ADJOURNMENT [8:09 p.m.]
With no additional action, Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting.
Krialin t1dwards, Deputy City Secretary
257
C