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Minutes - 03/04/2014 TH MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 4 DAY OF MARCH 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: Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Mac Woodward, Don H. Johnson OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________ MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\] 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Pro Tem Olson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Humphrey gave an invocation and Matthew Long from the YMCA led the pledges. 3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS - Celebration of Councilmember Allen’s birthday with Ameera Swaidan, Miss Katy 2014, and Eliza Harris, Lady Dubois 2013 - Proclamation in honor of Texas Week and presentation of Texan Baptismal Certificate to Councilmember Montgomery - Proclamation recognizing Severe Weather Awareness Week 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Charles Smither, Jr. spoke in opposition to the incentive guidelines in item 6c. Walter Boyd, Sr. spoke on a variety of items. Tamara Chasteen, Huntsville Item 2014 Citizen of the Year, thanked the City for its support of public activities through grants and donations, noting a “Citizen of the Year does not happen in a vacuum.” 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 18, 2014. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\] b. Adopt Ordinance 2014-22, denying the Entergy rate increase request and approving a recommended settlement, second reading. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\] c. Authorize the City Manager to submit an application to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for a Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $77,500.00. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director\] Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. 6. STATUTORY AGENDA a. FIRST READING Presentation, discussion, and possible action toconsider award of bid for the East Mosley Lane Reconstruction (project No. 10-10-24) and adopt Ordinance 2014-24 for associated budget amendment, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\] No action was taken on this first reading. City Attorney Leonard Schneider answered Councilmember Brauninger’s question, affirming bids from local companies within 3% or 5% (situation-dependent) could be taken instead of a low bid. b. FIRST READING Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to purchase one Pierce Impel 75’ Custom Cab Ladder Truck, for the Fire Department, first reading. \[Fire Chief Tom Grisham and Fleet Manager Mike Clouds\] No action was taken on this first reading. Chief Tom Grisham answered Council questions, saying the replacement truck was multi-purpose, thus replacing two prior trucks, believing possibly $10,000-$20,000 each could be recouped from sale. He also noted the Department had a 100’ ladder and the purchase would improve the city’s ISO and PPC ratings. The Chief also acknowledged the City did not regulate building heights, but did regulate the implementation of the fire code and required safety devices (adding that no city has a 12-story ladder truck). c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Chapter 380 agreement with Kroger Texas, L.P. to waive all permit and inspection fees. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\] Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a Chapter 380 agreement with Kroger Texas, L.P. to waive all permit and inspection fees and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. Councilmembers Rodriquez, Allen, and Brauninger opposed the item, in view of the store’s location in the TIRZ and its incentives, asking for a level playing field for all businesses. Mayor Pro Tem Olson, and Councilmembers Humphrey, Johnson, and Montgomery expressed support, noting the potential increases in tax income and local wages. The motion passed, 5-3, Councilmembers Brauninger, Allen, and Rodriquez voting against. d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider accepting the award for the FEMA cost overrun for the Community Safe Room. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director\] Councilmember Montgomery moved to accept the award for the FEMA cost overrun for the Community Safe Room and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. e. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with J.R. Miller and Associates for a Transfer Station Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design (Project No. 13-06-03) and adopting Ordinance 2014-25 for associated budget amendment. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\] Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with J.R. Miller and Associates for a Transfer Station Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design (Project No. 13-06-03) and adopt Ordinance 2014-25 for associated budget amendment and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. 7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT a. FIRST READING Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2014-23, authorizing participation with other Entergy service area cities in matters concerning Entergy Texas, Inc., at the Public Utility Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2014, first reading. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\] Councilmember Humphrey moved to suspend the Charter’s two-reading rule for ordinances and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2014-23, authorizing participation with other Entergy service area cities in matters concerning Entergy Texas, Inc., at the Public Utility Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2014 and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt the Mayor and City Council’s 2014 Strategic Plan. \[Mayor Woodward\] Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt the Mayor and City Council’s 2014 Strategic Planand was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. Councilmember Montgomery moved to amend the Strategic Plan by adding “or enhancing its current brand” to the end of Objective #13 to read “Consider hiring a Public Relations firm to help community leaders determine the image the community wishes to portray about itself, and provide the City with recommendations for implementing and publicizing its new brand or enhancing its current brand.” and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. Councilmember Humphrey reiterated her concerns from the Strategic Plan meeting over branding in Objective #13. Councilmember Emmett said he did not believe the Council had finalized the draft plan and should take another opportunity to do so. Councilmember Johnson pointed out his belief that the plan was goals and could be refined through staff action. The original motion passed, 6-2, Councilmembers Emmett and Allen voting against. c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to nominate LTC Rob McCormick and Jeffrey Clark to open positions on the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, and April McCormick to an open adult position on the Youth Advisory Board. \[Mayor Woodward\] Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to nominate LTC Rob McCormick and Jeffrey Clark to open positions on the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, and April McCormick to an open adult position on the Youth Advisory Board. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0. d. City Manager’s Report 1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development. The City Manager did not have a report. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT Jerry DeWitt said there was a Chick-fil-A on the SHSU campus and that he believed Target had been denied building a supercenter. Mayor Pro Tem Olson said he did not believe the City had done so. 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.) Councilmember Brauninger said how much he enjoyed the City’s recent key ceremony, for a new home for a local family, and supported this program. Mayor Pro Tem Olson addressed the items below: - On Thursday, March 6, at City Hall at 10 am, TxDoT will award a check for $3,000 to HPD for a raffle win. The department assisted TxDoT in data collection. Please join us for cake and celebration! - David DeKerlegand & Jeff Clark of Camp Hope of Houston (Jeff was probably just appointed to the VA Board a few minutes ago!) are holding regular weekly hours at the HEARTS Museum to help all veterans. Jeff is a PTSD- qualified counselor and they work with local law enforcement when a PTSD-related issue arises. See them at the HEARTS Museum or call 800-273-TALK. - The annual Chamber of Commerce Trade Show at the Fairgrounds will be Thursday, March 6 from 4-7:30 p.m. The City has free tickets available at all City facilities and will have a number of booths at the event. We look forward to visiting with you there! - HPD is accepting application through March 28 for Citizens Police Academy – call 291-5480 for more information. - The Texas State Association of Parliamentarians (TSAP) will be holding a parliamentary procedures workshop at the library on April 5. This is a great opportunity for those new to parliamentary procedure or needing a brush up to help their meetings run more efficiently. Register online at www.texasparliamentarians.org. th - Start planning for the 7 Annual E-waste Day, from 9-noon on April 5 at the Recycling Center - The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is offering housing recovery services for low- to moderate-income households, to both renters and owners. Please call 877-442-2777 for more information. FEMA is opening a statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program through May 30. Contact Dr. Sherry McKibben in the City’s Neighborhood Services office at 936-291-5428 for more information. thst - Please mark your calendars for March 30 & 31 as 2013 National Book Award finalists visit Huntsville! There will be a meet & greet from 4:30-6 on Sunday, March 30 at The Wynne Home Art Center, and readings and interviews st onstage at SHSU’s Gaertner Performing Arts Center from 7-9 pm on Monday, March 31. Councilmember Montgomery publicly thanked SHSU for its All Paws In event last Saturday, noting hundreds of students went out through the city to complete community service projects. Councilmember Rodriquez thanked the SHSU students at the free Veterans Car Wash at the HEARTS Museum last Saturday. Councilmember Humphrey encouraged volunteers for the th Folk Festival and Heart Walk. She congratulated the SHSU baseball team, ranked 20 in the nation, and acknowledged the great work at last Saturday’s Trash Bash. Councilmember Humphrey discussed this month’s TML Texas Town & City magazine article on citizen engagement, urging all to be “ambassadors for Huntsville.” 11. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Pro Tem Olson adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lee Woodward, City Secretary