Minutes - 12/17/2013
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 17 DAY OF DECEMBER 2013, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 5:00 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish
Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
WORK SESSION \[5:00 PM\] – Mike Roempke, Building Official, presented information on the next phases of community
cleanup projects.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Montgomery gave an invocation and Sierra Davis from AKAdemy Emerging
Young Leaders led the pledges.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
LTC Rob McCormick encouraged the public to attend the Wounded Warrior Banquet at the Walker County Fairground on January 16,
2014.
4. 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 Regular Session held on December 3, 2013. \[Lee Woodward, City
Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2014-08 to amend Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, specifically article VI “Secondhand
Jewelry and Precious Metals”; making other provision and findings thereto; and declaring an effective date,
second reading. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety\]
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of Ordinance 2014-15 to amend the budget
for FY 13-14 and amend the Capital Improvement Projects budget. \[Steve Ritter, Director of Finance\]
Councilmember Olson signed a Conflict of Interest form and did not participate in this vote. Councilmember Montgomery
moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. Mayor Woodward and then
Councilmembers Humphrey and Montgomery asked to pull item c upon concern by Councilmembers Rodriquez and
Brauninger over donations to non-profits. The motion to approve items a and b passed unanimously, 8-0.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve item c and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The City
Attorney reminded the City Council that they must determine that non-profit recipients meet a public purpose and that a
contract is signed for each to outline the terms of needs and uses. Councilmember Brauninger stressed that he
supported non-profit work and contributed to a number himself, but was disquieted by the City making decisions about
donations for the taxpayers at large. The motion passed, 7-2, Councilmembers Brauninger and Rodriquez voting against.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Adopt Ordinance 2014-12 to establish City of Huntsville’s retirement provisions in the Texas Municipal
Retirement System (TMRS) on the “50% repeating COLA (cost-of-living adjustment)” and the “50% repeating
Updated Service Credits” basis, second reading. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmembers Humphrey and Allen signed Conflict of Interest forms and did not participate in this vote.
Councilmember Olson moved to adopt Ordinance 2014-12 to establish City of Huntsville’s retirement provisions in the
Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) on the “50% repeating COLA (cost-of-living adjustment)” and the “50%
repeating Updated Service Credits” basis and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed
unanimously, 7-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to purchase of various water and wastewater treatment chemicals.
\[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the purchase of various water and wastewater treatment chemicals and
was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider the award of bid for Rehabilitation of Ground Storage
Tank at Spring Lake Water Plant Project - # 13-09-02. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the award of bid for Rehabilitation of Ground Storage Tank at Spring Lake
Water Plant Project - # 13-09-02 to Blastco, Inc., of Houston, Texas and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
d. FIRST READING: Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider the award of bid for Rehabilitation of
Elevated Storage Tank #1 at Palm Street Water Plant Project - #13-09-03, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
First reading, no action taken.
e. FIRST READING: Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider the purchase and installation of
three generators to be placed at various water well sites, first reading. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of
Neighborhood Resources\]
First reading, no action taken.
f. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider recommendation by Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board to implement new fees for athletic field rentals and approve the related Ordinance 2014-16 amending the
FY 13–14 Budget “Schedule of Fees and Charges.” \[Matt Lumpkins, Director of Parks and Leisure\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to implement new fees for athletic field rentals and adopt Ordinance 2014-16 amending
the FY 13–14 Budget “Schedule of Fees and Charges” and was seconded by Councilmembers Brauninger and
Humphrey. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to nominate David Hastings for an open position on the Cemetery
Committee. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nomination of David Hastings to an open position on the Cemetery Board. The motion
passed unanimously, 9-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2014-06 to increase the Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board to eleven members. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Resolution 2014-16 to increase the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board to
eleven members and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to nominate Kevin Edney and Conrad Liles to added positions on
the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nominations of Kevin Edney and Conrad Liles to added positions on the Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
d. Discussion and possible appointment of committee for easement acquisition policy. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward said he had visited with Councilmember Allen and asked him to form a committee on his own and draft
a policy for the City Council to consider in the future. He added that Councilmember Brauninger had volunteered along
with Debra Durda and former Councilmember James Fitch.
e. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
There were no updates.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Debra Durda thanked the City Council for the opportunity to serve and said she elected Councilmember to represent citizens to make
judicious decisions for them.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
9. 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.)
ndnd
Mayor Woodward congratulated 2 Lt. Sean R. Deville and 2 Lt. Raymond A. Rogers, who just graduated and were
commissioned as U.S. Army officers. Councilmember Humphrey encouraged all to complete the HISD Community Bond
Survey available online. She also clarified a Huntsville Item headline, noting individual Councilmembers did not speak for the
City Council as a whole. The Mayor and City Councilmembers wished everyone a safe, happy, and Merry Christmas!
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 6:51 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary