Minutes - 01/21/2014
ST
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 21 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 Johnson gave an invocation and Jordan Kader, YMCA Teen Leader, led the
pledges.
3. PRESENTATION
Proclamation in honor of Crime Stoppers Month
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Charles Smither, Jr. expressed concerns about item 6a not delineating all expenses. Jerry DeWitt spoke against the City’s use of
eminent domain against Randy Gardner and about compensation for easement acquisition for his property. Colonel Rob McCormick
thanked the City Council and community for the most successful Wounded Warriors Banquet to date.
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 January 7, 2014. \[Lee Woodward, City
Secretary\]
Councilmember Montgomery 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 adopt Resolution 2014-07 accepting a bid for the sale of city
owned property located at 1012 Thomason Avenue and authorize the City Manager to sign all necessary
documents to complete the sale. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Services\]
Councilmember Olson moved to adopt Resolution 2014-07 accepting a bid for the sale of City-owned property located at
1012 Thomason Avenue and authorize the City Manager to sign all necessary documents to complete the sale, and was
seconded by Councilmember Johnson.
Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Services, answered Councilmember Montgomery, saying this property
was purchased in anticipation of being used in the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program (NSP) but that the
contractor was later unable to build and there were no plans to continue with NSP. Councilmember Johnson
acknowledged the pre-existing home was already condemned when purchased. Dr. McKibben told Councilmember Allen
that qualifying homeowners and the extent of administrating the grant had made NSP very difficult and Councilmember
Johnson confirmed the City had moved on to the owner-occupied HOME program. Councilmembers Brauninger and
Rodriquez commended Dr. McKibben and the City for improving properties.
The motion passed 7-2, Councilmembers Allen and Humphrey voting against.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2014-08, authorizing the City Manager to
apply for a Wildfire Community Development Block Grant. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Services\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve Resolution 2014-08, authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Wildfire
Community Development Block Grant, and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed
unanimously.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider a request to change the name of Industrial Drive to
American Legion Drive and adopt Ordinance Number 2014-18, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Olson moved to suspend the rules requiring two readings for approval and was seconded by
Councilmember Allen. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Olson moved to consider a request to change
the name of Industrial Drive to American Legion Drive and adopt Ordinance 2014-18 and was seconded by
Councilmember Allen. The motion passed unanimously.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
Carol Reed, Director of Public Works, presented information on the evaluation of the N. B. Davidson Wastewater
Treatment Plant, including concerns of catastrophic failure. She gave options that had been considered by staff and
introduced Mark Mann of Schaumburg and Polk, Inc. to go over the details.
City Manager Matt Benoit gave the City Council material to begin planning for Friday’s Strategic Planning Exercise.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry DeWitt spoke again on “good faith” and “fair dealing” in compensation. Col. Rob McCormick thanked the City Council for
approval of the street renaming. Jerry DeWitt asked about the Tenaska earnings and the Mayor confirmed they are reinvested into the
water enterprise.
9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
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.)
The Mayor reminded all that the Houston Astros will be coming to Kate Barr Ross Park on Wednesday from 3:45-4:30, for their
flag-raising tour. He said players and alumni are subject to change but currently include Robbie Grossman, L. J. Hoes, and
Michael Foltynewicz (players) and Kevin Bass (alum). Mayor Woodward announced the final curbside recycling expansion
area began pickup in January, around Sycamore Avenue/Boettcher’s Mill/Rigsby Road/Wanza Road/Bearkat Boulevard, and
that Carol Reed, Director of Public Works, will host a guidelines follow-up meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Walker Education
th
Center at 1400 19 Street. The Mayor said The Art Guys, an internationally famous long-time performance art duo, will be at
the opening of a retrospective of their work at The Wynne Home this Saturday from 4-7 p.m., and that it is open to the public.
Councilmember Humphrey encouraged the public to attend the SHSU LEAP Center citizenship program. She said Carol Reed
had presented to the retired teachers organization, and thanked The Huntsville Item to report on the TADD initiative for local
cabs for drinking. Councilmember Brauninger announced Deputy City Secretary Kristin Edwards’ goal of 1000 subscribers to
the City newsletters and asked for support. The Mayor reminded everyone that Friday’s Strategic Planning session at the
library was open to the public.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:38 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary