Minutes - 01/07/2014
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 7 DAY OF JANUARY 2014, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 6:00 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_____________________________
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Rodriquez gave an invocation and members of the Huntsville Noon Lions
Club led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATION
Detective Marvin Hyvl was presented with a pin and certificate in recognition of his ore than thirty years of service to
the City.
Presentation on Huntsville Police Department Best Practices Recognition
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry DeWitt spoke on compensation claims for easement acquisition for sidewalk projects on Highway 190. Jack Wagamon
encouraged the Council to consider prior easement arrangements.
5. 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 17, 2013. \[Lee Woodward, City
Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2014-17, amending the FY13-14 budget for Capital Improvement Projects. \[Steve Ritter, Finance
Director\]
c. Approve the purchase and installation of three generators to be placed at various water well sites, second
reading. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for Rehabilitation of the Elevated Storage Tank #1 at Palm
Street Water Plant, Project - # 13-09-03, second reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
e. Approve tax sale bid for trust properties GEO ID 3323-030-0-01100, Elkins Lake, Section 3A, Block 30, Lots 11 and
12 (Property IDs 25929 and 25930, respectively). \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The
motion passed unanimously.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to approve Amendment No. 1 to Task
Order No. 4 with Schaumburg and Polk, Inc. (SPI) for the purpose of including construction engineering services
for Safe Routes to School (SRTS), Project 09-01-01. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to approve Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 4 with
Schaumburg and Polk, Inc. (SPI) for the purpose of including construction engineering services for Safe Routes to School
(SRTS), Project 09-01-01 and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to award a construction contract for
Avenue J and Lake Road sidewalk projects #11-10-32 and #11-10-33. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and
Economic Development\]
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to award a construction contract for Avenue J and Lake Road
sidewalk projects #11-10-32 and #11-10-33 and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion passed
unanimously.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Mayor’s appointments to City Council Committees.
\[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nomination of Councilmember Andy Brauninger to Councilmember Allen’s vacated position
on the Finance Committee. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Mayor’s nomination for alternate representative to the
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nomination of Councilmember Olson to serve as an alternate representative to the Houston-
Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for the 2014 calendar year. The motion passed unanimously.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Mayor’s nomination of Kristie Kelarek and Rainee
Thompson to open (adult and youth, respectively) positions on the Youth Advisory Board. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nomination of Kristie Kelarek and Rainee Thompson to open (adult and youth, respectively)
positions on the Youth Advisory Board. The motion passed unanimously.
d. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
Matt Benoit introduced new Human Resources Director Julie O’Connell, calling her a tremendous asset and
welcoming her to the City.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry DeWitt questioned the City’s ability to complete its scheduled water line project due to a pending lawsuit.
9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
Brandon Scott of The Huntsville Item asked for an update on the easement acquisition committee. Councilmember Allen said
they would meet Monday, January 13, at 5:30 p.m. and would attempt to find a fair solution.
10. 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.)
Mayor Woodward thanked Trey Shewell for his work filming the Council meetings and welcomed Michael Hawkins and Jacqui
Villafranco. He also announced Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety, had received his Masters from SHSU in
December. The Mayor told everyone that the Houston Astros would be in Huntsville on January 22 at Kate Barr Ross Park
from 3:45-4:30 for an “Astros Country” flag-raising. Councilmember Humphrey pointed out the monthly magazine of the Texas
Municipal League contained an article on the SHSU Center for Rural Studies. Councilmember Brauninger reminded all of the
Wounded Warrior Banquet on January 16 at the fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071– to
receive legal advice concerning economic development negotiations on project Snoopy. \[Matt Benoit, City
Manager, and Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\]
b. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 – counsel on legal matters - to receive legal advice on non-profit corporation exemptions from property
taxes and prohibited activities. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
The City Council adjourned to Executive Session at 6:41 p.m.
12. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The City Council reconvened at 7:37 p.m. There was no further action.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:37 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary