Minutes - 02/18/2014
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 18 DAY OF FEBRUARY 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, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Don H. Johnson, Joe P. Rodriquez
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
WORKSHOP \[5:30 P.M.\] – Jack Setterberg and Johnny DeBaugh of Weatherford will give a presentation on their local
facilities.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Humphrey gave an invocation and Jayce Park from the YMCA led the
pledges.
3. PRESENTATION
- Introduction of Ronnie Hale, Customer Service Manager, Entergy
- Proclamation in honor of National Engineer’s Week
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry DeWitt spoke on his claim on Highway 190 easement acquisition.
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 February 4, 2014. \[Lee Woodward, City
Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2014-21, amending the FY13-14 budget. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
c. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2015 Victims’ Service Coordinator Grant for $55,178.73,
plus $13,794.68 cash match, and adopt Resolution 2014-09 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben,
Neighborhood Services Director\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The
motion passed unanimously.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. FIRST READING Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2014-22, denying the Entergy
rate increase request. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Councilmember Olson asked to add “and accept settlement” to the wording for the second reading.
b. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
City Manager Matt Benoit gave the City Council a draft of the Strategic Plan resulting from the last meeting, and
reminded them of the February 20 session.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Beth Newton spoke about easement acquisition on her property on Highway 190. Jerry DeWitt spoke on the need to complete
sidewalks on Highway 190. City Attorney Leonard Schneider reviewed the process for and meaning of easement acquisition.
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.)
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The Mayor announced that February 19 was Poncho Robert’s 82 birthday. He said The Huntsville Item would announce the
Citizen of the Year on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Shelter. Mayor Woodward reminded all there are lots of activities around town
the first weekend in March, including events for Sam Houston’s Birthday and Texas Independence Day, available on
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www.huntsvilletexas.com, the Tourism Department’s website. He also reminded all of the City of Huntsville’s 19 annual Trash
Bash will be held March 1, 8-noon, at the Transfer Station and SHSU’s All Paws In, to kick off with breakfast on campus the
morning of March 1, a welcome at 9:30, and students working on projects all over town from 10-2.
The Mayor said the Chamber of Commerce would hold the annual Trade Expo at the Fairgrounds on March 6 and that the
Huntsville Police Department was accepting applications for their Citizen Police Academy. He also suggested all start
planning for the 7th Annual E-waste Day, from 9-noon on April 5 at the Recycling Center. Ben Pruitt and Stacy Lawler spoke
on the first annual Shotgun Fred Pirkle BBQ Showdown at the Fairgrounds from noon-4 p.m. on March 1 in honor of Fred
Pirkle, who was a die-hard SHSU alum and donated $25 million to SHSU just before his passing. They noted official teams
and judges were coming from across the country (and possibly from Japan). Mr. Pruitt thanked the City for its support,
especially the Mayor, Stacy Lawler, and Penny Joiner. Mr. Lawler promoted the Kids ‘Cue portion of the events, beginning at
9 a.m., asking the City Council to come help judge. He added that there would be live music Friday night and on Saturday.
Councilmember Humphrey noted the Huntsville Community Theater was opening “Shadowlands” and seeking actors for its
next production. She added that the Sam Houston Folk Festival was also recruiting for 2014. Councilmember Brauninger
reminded all that early voting had begun and encouraged everyone to exercise their right. Councilmember Humphrey thanked
Terry Stokes at SHSU HA/tch technology incubator for the recent Council tour, and the Mayor thanked Jack Setterberg of
Weatherford for his and Johnny DeBaugh’s presentation and for helping celebrate Engineer’s Week.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071– to
receive legal advice and Section 551.072 – deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real
property on claims for easement by Jerry DeWitt and on easement process. \[Mayor Mac Woodward\]
The City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 6:45 p.m.
11. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The City Council reconvened into open session at 7:44 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary