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MIN CC 03/23/2010• CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" The motion passed unanimously. 15. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned t7:48 �q 1 Woodward, City Secretary MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 2V DAY OF MARCH 2010, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6PM. The Council met in a regular session with the following: COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: J. Turner, Tom Cole, Mac Woodward, Jack Wagamon, Dalene Zander, Melissa Templeton, Charles Forbus, Lanny Ray, Wayne Barrett COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: none OFFICERS PRESENT: Bill Baine, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary WORKSHOP SESSION [5:30PM] Council will discuss the possibility of an Expo Center /Indoor Arena. [Mayor Turner] • The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. The Mayor stated he believed they had three basic parts to cover; first being to review the handout on the current use of Hotel Occupancy Tax money, second, the HOT Board members would discuss what they have in mind for the project, and third, other Council members could ask questions and have general discussion. The Mayor briefly outlined the last five years of HOT revenue and expenditures from the handout. Councilmember and HOT Chairman Forbus said the four items he felt they needed to address were: 1. Do the citizens want an Expo Center? 2. If they do, what would it look like and what kind of facilities would it have? 3. How much is it going to cost? 4. How will it be financed? He said he thought the committee members would be volunteering, but that there was the $30,000 available if needed for projects. Forbus said Karen Fletcher's company had a hotel in Glen Rose, and had offered to take the HOT Board and some other committee members there to see the Expo Center /Arena in that community. The Mayor said a fifth item would be operating expenses in addition to construction costs. Councilmember Ray suggested a large steel expo center with breakout rooms, a parking lot, and an indoor arena. He pointed out that some of the local hotels were filled for the weekend for the Fair and Rodeo, and also that the Sam Houston State University Rodeo Team had won several national championships, yet still had to hold their events in Conroe. He said the idea was for growth in tourism and benefit to local businesses in addition to hotels. Ray also presented feasibility studies from other areas. He said some facilities do turn a profit, although an operating expense was to be expected. He also suggested planning with an eye to bringing back the prison rodeo, which he said would be amazing. Ray further asked that the HOT Board members also be placed on the committee, and that the committee return several possibilities for facilities. He said he hoped they would also look for public and private donations to assist, and it would be a shame if they did not try to find out if this was feasible. • Councilmember Forbus said it was important that the committee get to work right away in case there needed to be requests made of the Legislature. Councilmember Wagamon asked if they could get numbers from Glen Rose for construction and operating costs. The Mayor mentioned that one candidate for the committee was Blaine Hinds, a former City Manager from Ardmore, Oklahoma, which has an older but similar facility. Councilmember Ray confirmed that some of the information Councilmember Wagamon asked for was in one of the studies he would have distributed to all Councilmembers. CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" • Councilmember Templeton asked how a new center would affect the current Fair and Rodeo. Ray said it would be up to them, but that the current venue had limited parking and could not sell alcohol. He also said there was no intent to put them out, that perhaps the old facility could be used in conjunction. The Mayor said he expected the facility would work with the Fair and the University. Forbus said he felt the trip to Glen Rose would also provide an opportunity to speak to local businesspeople about effects of a center. Councilmember Cole said he felt this was similar to the golf course, would be expensive for the City and for the taxpayers, and would be in direct competition with existing entities. He also said he seriously doubted the prison rodeo was a possibility, due to changes in inmates and employees, and also liability and the litigious nature of society. He said that the prison was part of the security before, but that the City would be responsible at its own facility. Councilmember Ray said no general fund money or bonds would be used for this project, or he would oppose it, that he thought it was a productive way to use HOT funds and help tourism by actually bringing people to the community. The Mayor recalled that was initially also said about the golf course. Cole also said Texas had nice weather and that indoor arenas were for other parts of the county. Councilmember Barrett said some members of the Council had been discussing this mare, and that he was very serious about the feasibility study but that was as serious as he was, and he hoped that the committee was charged with a true feasibility study, to first answer not "How big it should be? ", but "Should it be ?" He said he hoped to see lots of hard data than anecdotal evidence. He said he was also concerned about how the prison rodeo kept coming up in relation to this, and would not want to see them do it even because of a 15 -20% chance that the prison rodeo would possibly return. He said a clear commitment for and against it from the prison would be more useful. Barrett also said the Council had voted on a feasibility study, not to do the project. He said that, in the past year, some ideas had gathered strength and become promoted as being decided on before the Council had voted on them, and wanted the Council to maintain a healthy degree of skepticism until this idea had been fully explored. Councilmember Woodward said he felt the Council was responsible for giving the public as much accurate and correct information they could, and the public could decide. He also said the nominees of whom he had heard seemed very • diverse, which he thought was good. Mayor Turner said he would put forth a slate of possibly . twenty -five nominees at the next Council meeting, and asked that Councilmembers contact him if they wished to discuss it. He also encouraged them to submit any names they wished to have considered as nominees. The meeting adjourned at 6:OOpm. REGULAR SESSION" [6:OOPM] 4. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Turner called the meeting to order at 6:02pm. 2. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE 16. INVOCATION Councilmember Barrett gave the invocation. 17. PROCLAMATION a. Proclamation 2010 -28, Public Housing Month, April 2010. 18. PRESENTATION OF SPRING 2010 INTERNS TO COUNCIL 19. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. 20. CONSENTAGENDA • (Approval of Consent Agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item in accordance with staff recommendations. An item maybe removed from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory Agenda for full discussion by request of a member of Council.) e. Approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on the 9th of March 2010. [Lee Woodward, City • CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" Secretary] f. Approve Ordinance 2010 -26 to approve stop signs on Gainous Street, 2"" reading. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works] g. Approve Resolution 2010 -23 to apply for, accept if awarded, and implement the USDA Farmer's Market Promotion Program grant, no match required. [Dr. Sherry McKibben, Community Development Specialist] h. Authorize City Manager to allow change order to Purchase Order 2010 -096 in the amount of $66,087.76 for completion of repairs to Water Well # 14. [Billie Smith, Procurement Manager] Councilmember Zander made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Forbus seconded the motion. Dr. Sherry McKibben, Community Development Specialist, confirmed that the Farmers' Market grant did not require a match from the City, would be awarded by September, and available for use in October, for a fanners' market to run every weekend through the growing season. She also said it could be used for the cost of a director or intern to help run the market, but could not be used to lease or purchase property. The Mayor mentioned that he had spoken to a couple of local organic gardeners who expressed excitement over the project. Councilmember Ray said he thought it was a great idea, and Councilmember Templeton suggested the Master Gardeners could be involved. Councilmember Zender mentioned the current growers who sell biweekly, and that there were buyers for these products. The motion passed unanimously. 21. STATUTORY AGENDA a. Discussion and possible action to approve Ordinance 2010 -27 described as "An Ordinance Authorizing • the Issuance and Sale of City Of Huntsville, Texas, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2010; Providing for the Security for and Payment of Said Bonds; Prescribing the Forth of Said Bonds; Awarding the Sale Thereof; Approving the Official Statement and a Bond Purchase Agreement; and Enacting Other Provisions Relating to the Subject ", single reading only, per Texas Government Code, Section 1201.028. [Winston Duke, Finance Director] Councilmember Forbus made a motion to approve the Ordinance. Councilmember Templeton seconded the motion. Finance Director Winston Duke said it was a $3.5 million placement with First National Bank for the publicly approved bonds. He said the rate 3.26% on a 15 year note, 15 year amortization and that they intended to put a 10 year call on it. The motion passed unanimously, 8 -1 as Councilmember Woodward signed a conflict of interest form instead of voting. b. Discussion and possible action to approve Ordinance 2010 -28 to approve stop signs on Molly Drive at Vicki Street, 1 "r reading. [Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works] Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works, said it was a potentially dangerous intersection, that stop signs had been up for ninety days, and that it had had a positive impact on traffic. 22. MAYOR /CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER REPORT a. Presentation, discussion and possible action to approve nominees for HOME grant selection committee. [Mayor Tu mer] Mayor Turner made a motion to approve the nominees. Councilmember Ray seconded the motion. Councilmember Woodward asked about their duties and was told they would review applicants for the grant monies already received by the City. • The motion passed unanimously. b. Presentation, discussion and possible action to approve nomination of Karen Fletcher to the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board. [Mayor Turner] Mayor Turner made a motion to approve the nomination. Councilmember Ray seconded the motion. CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" • The Mayor said he felt the HOT Board would be well served by having a local businessperson on the committee. The motion passed unanimously. c. Update from Hotel Occupancy Tax Board. [Councilmember Forbus] Councilmember Forbus presented the following report: Hotel Occupancy Tax Board Report Meeting Date March 11, 2010 Items of interest 1) No new applications were presented 2) Discussed pending applications for Sam Houston Folk Festival and Walker County Historical Commission. Recommended funding $3,000.00 for the Folk Festival and $6,000.00 for the WCHC proposals. 3) Updated the Board on the funding approved by City Council for the Walker County Fair and Rodeo in the amount of $10,000.00. 4) Charlotte Oleinik updated the Board on use of funding previously awarded to the Veteran's Museum. 5) Kimm Thomas gave a preliminary report on the possible formation of a Tourism Advisory Board that would primarily function in an advisory capacity and possibly also act as an information dispersing avenue for planned events around the area. 6) The Board announced that the funds available for proposed events was depleted for the present year and any further applications would have to be considered in the next year's budget. 7) The Board announced that future applications for funding would have to be submitted during this year's budget cycle and that any organization that wanted a proposed project funded would need to present it at that time. Information regarding timing for proposal presentation will be available on the City's web site, in the City Connection, and also in future press releases. • 8) The Board received the Hotel Occupancy Tax report prepared by Rachel Smith. Collections for month ending Feb. 28, 2010 were $29,901.36 compared to $35,807.82 for the same month last year, down 16.49 %. Year to date collections are down 9.63% from $230,417.93 to $208,225.76. 9) The Board discussed the proposed Expo- Center feasibility committee and reiterated that its purpose was to determine if there was a need for a center, the scope of the facility, size and amenities, costs and how to best finance if a project was recommended.. Forbus also mentioned that Karen Fletcher of the Huntsville Hospitality Association has reported local hotels are experiencing record occupancy forthe Fair and Rodeo this weekend. d. Presentation, discussion and possible action to approve Hotel Occupancy Tax Board recommendations ($6,000 for Walker County Historical Commission, $3,000 for Sam Houston Folk Festival) from March 11, 2010 meeting. [Councilmember Forbus] Councilmember Forbus made a motion to approve the HOT Board recommendations. Councilmember Templeton seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, 8 -0 as Councilmember Cole signed a conflict of interest form instead of voting. e. Presentation, discussion and possible action to authorize the Walker County Public Safety Communications Committee to use $45,437.61 of City of Huntsville contributions to supplement the purchaselinstallation of a new dispatch software system and associated hardware. [Councilmember Forbus] Councilmember Forbus made a motion to approve the purchase. Councilmember Templeton seconded the motion Councilmember Templeton asked what improvements would be seen as a result of the expenditure. Debra Gilbert of the Walker County Dispatch said changing to almost any system would be an improvement over what was being used now. Gilbert said those would include ease of use on the part of the dispatchers, quicker • response time, fewer issues with the CAD system, and that the new system was user-customizable and would make the system flow more smoothly and make a tremendous difference. Chits Vasquez, IT Manager, said an advisory committee had reviewed ten software demos and took four onsite visits before recommending ICS, the chosen company, and said he felt the company had a good reputation. • CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" The motion Dassed unanimously. f. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Ravenwood finance plan. [Councilmember Wagamon] Councilmember Wagamon spoke on items f & g together. Aron Kulhavy, Director of Public Works, reviewed the road, water & drainage improvements required for the TIRZ agreements. He then discussed the Ravenwood public works list of October 2008, all of which was accepted and is complete, with the exception of some sidewalks and landscaping. Councilmember Wagamon expressed disagreement with the fad that things such as detention ponds on property not owned by the City were considered as public improvements. Mr. Kulhavy said his understanding was that the City of Huntsville had traditionally accepted such improvements in this manner, although the City required the owners to maintain these, which was preferable to the City having to maintain it. Councilmember Wagamon said the Development Code required the maintenance. The Mayor said that his experience was that detention areas were privately owned, and were intended to maintain runoff at the same rate, regardless of the development on the property. Councilmember Ray said the original agreement showed detention ponds and drainage were designated as public improvements. Councilmember Wagamon said you could call something public, but just because it's in a contract, that doesn't make it so. He said this was a question of reimbursement under the tax code, and wasn't up to the Council to make that call, that it doesn't matter if it's on a list or who approved it. He said he fell whether it was public was an easy determination to make, for things that were not owned by the City of Huntsville, such as the iron fence or water features, regardless of their benefit. Councilmember Forbus said he thought the City Attorney should make a determination. The City Attorney said the general answer was that if the Tax Code whereby the TIRZ was created and funded allows this and doesn't distinguish between private and public ownership, then the contract is appropriate. He further said that if there is • case law saying it is not appropriate, then there may be a void portion of the contract by law, but that this was a general answer. Councilmember Templeton confirmed with Mr. Kulhavy that all the items on the list were done except the sidewalks and landscaping. Councilmember Woodward asked, to date, what the value of the reimbursables was, and Mr. Baine said approximately $3.4 to $3.6 million, with about $400,000 not completed yet. Councilmember Woodward asked if the improvements on the front, the deceleration lanes, were approved by TxDOT, and Mr. Kulhavy confirmed that was so. Councilmember Ray said he thought they should do what they can to promote this area now that it's open, but had concerns as the last three public comments from the developer were threats of litigation, and that he felt the Council was owed a visit and an explanation. Councilmember Wagamon said he was comfortable with the City Attorney looking into what the developer could be legally reimbursed for. Councilmember Woodward asked where they were with reimbursements. City Manager Bill Baine said a TIRZ meeting had been scheduled four weeks hence, and they were waiting for the TIRZ report at that time. Councilmember Woodward reconfirmed that the reimbursement was based on the taxes paid, and the Mayor said it would be roughly $40,000 for this year. g. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding Ravenwood project plan, specifically the list and location of public improvements as outlined in 311 of the tax code. [Councilmember Wagamon] It. Discussion of public improvements at Ravenwood. [Bill Baine, City Manager] Mr. Baine said this was a discussion of extending the time period for public improvements, since, if the developer was encouraged to put them in shortly, they would be destroyed when later development came in. He said he would like to require a performance bond for the public improvements and give the developer a years extension, in order to help the development "make if'. Councilmember Forbus said he thought it was a laudable thing to do and showed support. Councilmember Wagamon said he would like at least a letter from the developer saying that he was not going to sue the City. • Councilmember Ray agreed, as there were two threats of litigation in writing, that he would also like to know if that was still on the table. Councilmember Barrett asked if the extension could be granted but revocable in the instance of litigation. Mr. Kulhavy said that was already in the agreement, that it was revocable for cause. City Attorney Schneider said he would not want to do so, but would have to look into it. Councilmember Forbus said perhaps the City Attorney could get a letter of the type Councilmember Ray suggested before a decision was made. CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" • The City Attorney said he could request a clarification if litigation over the reduction in size of the TIRZ was still pending, and could relay any response to the Council. Councilmember Barrett said he shared the concerns and would be satisfied with this plan of action. I. Discussion of moving Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) boundary to 1 -45 in order to capture value of public improvements. [Bill Baine, City Manager] Mr. Baine said this item was to inform the Council that the consultant hired for the TIRZ report had advised that the TIRZ boundary be extended to the median of the IA5 feeder to include the deceleration lane, and was not growing the buildable property, just allowing the developer to get credit for those improvements. Councilmember Cole asked how TxDOT's property could be included, and the Mayor said they were extending an economic incentive, not requiring that anything be done on the property. Councilmember Barrett confirmed that this change was to allow the developer to be reimbursed, and said he felt this should be set aside along with the previous item, for the same reasons. Mr. Baine said this was not to be decided that evening, and would have to be voted on by both the Council and the TIRZ Board. Councilmember Woodward confirmed that this would also be an extension on Smlther Drive, as per the survey. Councilmember Zander asked what the total amount was for these changes, and Mr. Kulhavy said he did not have an exact amount, roughly $200,000. Councilmember Templeton asked if the developer built and paid for the lanes, and the Mayor said that, technically, TxDOT built them and the developer paid for them. Councilmember Wagamon pointed out that this was a public improvement in that the public owned it. "(Additional discussion on this item occurred at the end of the next item.) j. Presentation, discussion and possible action on City policy on media contacts, as a representative of the City, regarding future policy decisions. [Councilmember Wagamon] • The Mayor said he had discussed with Councilmember Wagamon the issue of speaking with the media on items that had not been adjudicated by the Council. The Mayor said this was already addressed in the Rules of Procedure, and, that as an organization, the City should only speak to policy matters that have been decided. He further said that, as individuals, all associated with the City may speak as they wish, resulting in two levels of communication, either individual or organizational. Councilmember Wagamon said he thought the difference was that an elected official speaking on public policy could be voted out of office or recalled, but that if the public didn't like what a City employee said on policy, there was no recourse or remedy even though the employee was being paid with his or her tax dollars. He also said it was fine for factual information to be given out by employees, but not advocacy for or against policy issues. Councilmember Ray said employees have a first amendment right off-duty as long as it is not disruptive, and that City policy says employees are not to volunteer information on any City business to the media. He said elected officials have an unfettered right to advocate, although he didn't think it was ethical for Councilmembers to "go around saying "The City of Huntsville thinks..... " The Mayor said individuals might always speak for themselves as long as it's not disruptive, but that no individual can speak for the organization. Councilmember Woodward said employees' opinions were a valuable tool for the Council. Councilmember Templeton said she would like to hear what employees think, but she didn't want to read it in the paper. The Mayor said this was why the agenda item was in reference to media contacts. Councilmember Forbus said he thought all City business had to pass through the Public Information Officer. Mr. Baine said he thought there was a difference between the promotion of an idea versus giving factual information. 'At this point, the Mayor returned to the previous item, saying the City Manager had just told him the bond was due to expire April 1". The City Manager said he wanted the bond in effect, and that he felt the spirit of the Council was that they wanted him to leverage the bond for the letter discussed. He said he had had several face- to -face conversations with the Ravenwood development people in the last year and a half, that many of the members have changed, and that they have been fairly easy to work with and have not brought up litigation. He said he would be happy to get on the phone in the morning and try to get the litigation question worked out, but • asked what their desire was if he could not. Mr. Baine said the deadline had been extended a couple of times, the country was in recession, and he thought they wanted him to live up to the spirit of the agreement. Councilmember Ray asked if the bond was tied to the extension, Mr. Baine said it was, but the boundary extension was not. Mr. Kulhavy said the City Engineer had the option to extend due to engineering concerns, and that this was not related to the TIRZ. He also said the developer had only asked for an extension of a few • CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" months, but the City staff thought it would be worse to have the improvements be installed in the summer and likely die, and therefore suggested a year extension. Councilmember Forbus asked if this would require a special session. Mr. Baine said he was disclosing that he wanted a performance bond. Councilmember Wagamon again asked for a statement from the developer in the next week that they were no longer scheduling litigation, or the bond should be called. Councilmember Barrett said he felt the City Manager had done a very good job keeping all this going, and that it was in the City's interest to keep the project moving smoothly. He said he would like the City Manager the ability to exercise his judgment in keeping with the concerns of the Council. The Mayor said he would like to reiterate what Councilmember Barrett said, and that he had confidence in Mr. Baine and that he thought he would protect their interests. Councilmember Ray asked if the City Manager already had license to make this decision, and Mr. Baine confirmed he did. k. Discussion of possible solutions to ongoing sales of drugs on the street in Ward 3. [Councilmember Wagamon] Councilmember Wagamon said he intended to speak with the City Attorney about drug problems in Ward 3. He said the police had made great efforts and the citizens had gotten involved. He said there might be something the Council could do by passing an ordinance that would give the police department some additional tools. Interim Chief Kevin Lunsford gave a PowerPoint presentation on narcotics enforcement (below). # of individuals arrested on narcotics charges to date. FY09 -10 Ward 1— 43 Ward2— 51 Ward 3— 117 Ward 4 — 26 • Future plans for narcotic enforcement include: a. Increase community awareness and encourage citizens to report suspicious activity. Exploration of using a drug hot -line for people not wishing to call Crimestoppers, etc. b. Attach the K -9 and handier on part time basis to Problem - Directed Policing Unit (PDPU) to work closer with them and help increase community awareness. C. Redirect efforts toward street level narcotics enforcement by PDPU team as well as patrol officers, if that is the direction deemed most appropriate by Council and Manager. d. Continue to work with Mr. Roempke in identifying and removing abandoned crack houses — improving the appearance of the community, etc. e. Advanced training for newer patrol officers on street level drug enforcement f. Continue /Enhance working relationships with other agencies: WCSO, DPS, UPD, etc. Please be aware that historically, enhanced enforcement efforts tend to generate citizen complaints of harassment, prejudicial treatment, etc. Council and staff should be prepared for these types of complaints. Councilmember Forbus asked if they had considered walking beats randomly. Interim Chief Lunsford said they had had some success with both K -9 and bike patrols. Councilmember Wagamon thanked the police department for all the work they had done. I. City Manager's Report 7. Update on 30" water line repairs. Mr. Baine thanked Carol Reed and approximately 21 of her employees for the great job they had done on the successful repairs. He asked that they hire someone to tell them exactly why the pipe failed. Mr. Baine also showed a short film clip of Well #19, a 900gpm /1400' deep well, where the pipe was disintegrating and the filter was exposed. He said he would be asking for about $300,000 to repair this well, hopefully before August, to match the City's water consumption needs and hurricane risk. 2. Discuss refund on street light overcharge settlement. • Mr. Baine said the City Attorney told him there is a pending resolution that will come up for approval at the next Council meeting. 3. Discuss $114,000 library grant. Mr. Baine said the City had the opportunity, thanks to Representative Kolkhorst, to apply for a library grant on short notice. He said it did require a match, which the Friends of the Library are supplying most of, and is for computer technology the City would have to buy anyway to expand the number of computers available in CITY COUNCIL MEETING of MARCH 2010 BOOK "U" • the library. 4. Discuss garbage truck availability. Mr. Baine said the City's automated trucks, despite the heroic efforts of James Archie, Fleet Manager, have only about a 60% availability. He said he had also met with fleet operators from Lufkin and with a third -party concern that hauls solid waste, and both conversations yielded similar 60% answers. Mr. Baine said four of the trucks are more complex than normal, and that he and Mr. Archie were going to pursue some alternatives to buying a spare truck. 5. Update on new City Engineer. Mr. Baine introduced Yellambalsi "Ram" Ramachandra, the new City Engineer, and said his work experience pretty much match the City's skill set. The Mayor welcomed Mr. Ramachandra on behalf of Council. 23. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no additional public comments. 24. MEDIA INQUIRIES There were no media inquiries made. 25. 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.) a. March to the Mailbox Extravaganza will be held Saturday, April 10, 1-4pm, at Eastham- Thomason Park. b. Congratulations to Hornet and Bearkat basketball teams. The Mayor said all should be very proud of the performances of both teams. • The Mayor said the Veterans Affairs Advisory Board had received the good news that the National Guard 72ntl Battalion has an unofficial return date around September 1 ". He said it would be important to welcome them, and discussed a fundraiser of a commemorative coin to hold a banquet in appreciation of their service. The Mayor reminded everyone about the City's 175" birthday, the demi- semi -sept- centennial, on Monday, July 12'". Councilmember Ray encouraged all to attend the Walker County Fair and Rodeo. Councilmember Forbus reminded all of the Rodeo Parade Thursday evening. Mr. Baine discussed the City's "Lose for Life" health initiative beginning April 1 ". Councilmember Wagamon said the Ward 3 Town Hall has been rescheduled, due to snow, for Thursday, April 2g'". 26. ADJOURNMENT The rrikting was adjo4med at 6:07pm. •