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MIN CC 02/04/1997CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4, 1997 BOOK "S" 71 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1997, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M. The Council met in regular session with the following members present: COUNCILMEMBERS: William B. Green, Mayor Dave Luning Officers: Dan S. Davis David Martinez Gene Pipes, City Manager Ronald L. Lange JoAnn Matthews Scott Bounds, City Attorney Ann lames Marjorie Rex Vance Howard CITIZEN INPUT/INQUIRY Lillian Sneer. Ms. Speer stated her objection to the City allowing morally objectionable businesses to be allowed in Huntsville. Mayor Green stated that City Council has passed a moratorium on any new sexually oriented businesses for six months to allow the staff to examine the City's legal options. INVOCATION Invocation by Carroll Williams, First Baptist Church. CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 21, 1997 Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the minutes of January 21 19,97, and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion Councihnember James made two corrections to the minutes. The motion passed unanimously. ATTENDING CITIZENS 1. Ron Bruno Parker County Youth Emergency Shelter, Inc. Executive Director and Leroy Wilkinson. Walker County Juvenile Services Director. Mr. Bruno stated that he would pass out some flyers while his associate Johnny Sampson detailed the program. Mr. Sampson stated that the Parker County Youth Emergency Shelter in Weatherford has been open for about 3 '% years. The Shelter deals with Youth Commission and probation department youth. The facility is secured and licensed by the DPRS. The objective is to take these troubled kids and get them going in the right direction. In addition to teaching school, a pre- vocation class to teach youth some type of skill is available. There are group sessions available for anger control and substance abuse. Mr. Bruno stated that his plan is to put a facility in the Huntsville area to target the east region. The building will be in a detention mode, abiding by detention center standards set by the TJCP. The facility will provide 23 new jobs in the community and save the City/County money by not having to transport youth to other facilities outside of Walker County. The 30 -bed facility in Weatherford generates about $800,000 per yew, through per diem contracts with the Texas Youth Commission and Juvenile Probation Departments (about 30 counties at present). The proposed facility will provide a service to the juveniles in need. Mr. Bruno stated that he is in the process of seeking financial assistance in the construction of the facility. A group in Houston is putting together a formal architectural plan to take to the financial institution. TDCJ, as of September 1996, has approved four acres of land off of FM 2821 for a long term lease (20 years) for the facility. It is anticipated that the interim loan may he secured by mid March, and it will take from 120 days to five months for construction. The licensing process will begin during construction. Councihnember Luning stated that he and other Councilmembers have been attending monthly meetings of different youth service organizations and it has become apparent that a facility of this type is needed in Walker County. He is pleased to see the progress with the facility. 2. Burdis and Shirlev Gamble to uudate.City Council on the continuing oroblem of a private wrecker storage lot in their neighborhood. !, Mrs. Gamble passed out to Councilmembers copies of police reports and letters. She stated that they have asked for help with a noise and diesel fuel problem coming from ajunk yard in their neighborhood. The fumes are causing headaches and it is hard to get a good night sleep with the noise from the business. Recently a State Senator wrote them and suggested that they consider moving. She does not see why after living in this house for 28 years, that they should have to move. She asked for City Council's help with this problem. Mayor Green stated that the City has tried to address this issue and has not found a solution as of yet. Staff will look into this matter again and see if any alternative can be found. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4, 1997 BOOK "S" CONSIDER ORDINANCE 97 -2 -4.1 AMENDING THE PERSONNEL RULES TO REFLECT CHANGES REQUIRED UNDER COBRA 72 Mr. Schindler stated that this is a housekeeping item to amend the Personnel Rules to keep in line with that required by law. Councilmember Lange made a motion to aoorove Ordinance 97-24.1 amending the Personnel Rules to reflect changes reouired under COBRA. and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion The motion vassed unanimou lv CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEE MEDICAL BENEFITS PLAN AND TRUSTEE BOARD Mr. Schindler stated that throughout the last year, amendments were made by ordinance to the Employee Medical Benefits Plan. The plan, with these amendments, needs to be adopted by City Council. Several other issues not covered by ordinance but that needed defining in the plan have also been addressed. Councilmember Lange stated that the Personnel Committee would like to change the employee eligibility requirement to read: "if they work 30 hours per week, except that no minimum hours will apply to the Charter Officers of the City of Huntsville ". This allows the City Judge and Associate Judge to be eligible for medical benefits. Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve the amendments to the Employee Medical Benefits Plan with the additional amendment to add Charter Officers with no minimum hours and Councilmember James seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bounds stated that he would bring an ordinance to Council at its next meeting ratifying these changes. Councilmember Lange stated that the Trustees Board for the Plan needs to be amended. At present, the Board consists of two citizen appointees and the City Manager. The Personnel Committee would like to recommend that the Board be changed to consist of the Director of General Services, a member of the Personnel Committee of City Council, one City employee appointed for a two year term to be rotated between departments, and the two citizen appointments. This would create a five member board. Councilnu tuber Matthews made a motion to aoorove the changes in the Trustee Board of the Emplovee Medical Benefits Plan to chanee from a three member to a five member board with the above listed members and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE ICMA DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN Councilmember Rex made a motion to aoorove the amendments to the ICMA Deferred Compensation Plan. and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. The motion vassed unanimously. CONSIDER OCCUPANT PROTECTION STEP GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 (100% FUNDED) Councilmember Luning made the motion to approve the Occupant Protection Step Grant application to the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $20.000 (100% funded) and Councilmember James seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER SCOREBOARD AGREEMENT WITH HUNTSVILLE GIRLS SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Mr. Wilder stated that the approval of this agreement will amend the current Field Use Agreement. Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the scoreboard agreement with Huntsville Girls Softball Association and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT L Consider a contract for the use of the Martin Luther King Center for an after school activities program administered by the Huntsville Housing Authority, Montgomery/Walker County Council Alcohol Drug Abuse, and the YMCA. The collaboration (HHA, MWCCADA and YMCA) has applied and received a two year grant for approximately $50,000 to provide an afternoon program for children in the neighborhood surrounding the MLK Center. This collaboration is asking for use of the MLK Center for this program. Councilmember Matthews made a motion to wurove a contract for the use of the MLK Center for an after school activities program administered by the HHA. MWCCADA, and the YMCA. and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously. r� -CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4, 1997 BOOK "S" 73 2. Consider Resolution 97 -2 -4.1 considering all matters incident and related to approving and authorizing the giving of notice of intention to issue revenue bonds. Mayor Green stated that these revenue bonds will be used to construct the Robinson Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant as well as build collateral lines to support the plant. Councilmember Davis made a motion to anorove Resolution 97 -2 -4.1 considering all matters incident and related to approving and authorizing the givine of notice of intention to issue revenue bonds. and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCILMEMBER ACTION City's Bond Rating Councilmember Davis stated that the City has been rated A -3 by Moody's and A- by Standard and Peons. These are both favorable ratings for the size of this City and the amount of indebtedness contemplated. Parks Master Plan Hearing. Councilmember James stated that she attended the Parks Board hearing and there were many good suggestions made. She would like to see the City take the handle on initiating a study for the IH -45 corridor for greenspace. Fire Truck Radio. Councilmember James stated that the new fire truck that was viewed has a 20 year old radio that is obsolete and would like to have a new radio purchased for the truck. HGAC Regional Review Committee. Councilmember Martinez stated that he and Councilmember James have been reappointed to the HGAC Regional Review Committee. MEDIA INQUIRIES Wayne Sorge asked about the speculation on what the City's bond rating will do for the City in the upcoming bond issue. Councilmember Davis stated that the higher the bond rating, the lower the interest will be. Mayor Green stated that it also will lower our insurance costs. ADJOURNMENT RECESS into a Work Session to consider the methodology of the E -91 l addressing plan. Danna Welter, City Secretary