MIN CC 09/17/2002CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 17.2002 BOOK "S"
417
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2002, IN THE
CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBERS: Mark Erb OFFICERS:
William B. Green, Mayor John Escobedo Bob Hart, City Manager
Jack Choate Vance Howard Paul Isham, City Attorney
Gary Crawford Judy Kayse Danna Welter, City Secretary
Ralph A. Davis, Jr. Steed Smith
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING [p.m.]
The Personnel Committee met to discuss the review procedure for Charter Officers (City Manager, CityAttomey, City Secretary
and Judge for Municipal Court). [Note: Councilmember Choate was absent during the Personnel Committee Meeting but was
present for the City Council meeting.]
CALL TO ORDER [5:15 p.m.]
Mayor Green called the meeting to order.
INVOCATION
City Manager Bob Hart led the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING on the PROPOSED ANNEXATION
1.
Vernetta Fulenwider. Ms. Fulenwider stated opposition to the proposed annexation at this time, presenting a letter to
the Council from the citizens living in her area.
2.
Darrell Hall. Mr. Hall stated he is in favor of the proposed fire station. He stated he would also prefer the City repair
'
the current pool rather than create a new sports complexfswimming pool facility, and that he is disappointed in the
golf course.
3.
Virginia Chasteen. Ms. Chasteen is in favor of the proposed annexation.
4.
Karl Davidson. Mr. Davidson stated he is opposed to higher waste water rate increases and tax increases.
5.
Brian Woodward. Mr. Woodward stated he is opposed to using the $700,000 grant (Entergy money) for things such
as the golf course, sewer system, etc., and he is in favor of annexing only the property adjacent to the airport.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
'i 1
I I
John Fuchs. Mr. Fuchs spoke as a WWII veteran, spoke in favor of the Citys assistance in applying for the State
Veteran's Home RFP.
2.
Jim Balzaretti. Mr. Balzaretti spoke in favor of the Citys assistance in applying for the State Veteran's Home RFP.
'.i 3.
Gustavo Pineda. Mr. Pena was not present.
4.
Tony Rocheford. Mr. Rocheford requested more development to the City soccer fields to match the huge increase in
Huntsville's soccer growth.
5.
Chuck Fields. Mr. Fields also requested more development to the City soccer fields.
6.
Charles Smither, Jr. Mr. Smither voiced a complaint regarding violations of the Development Code on the subject of
posting handbills for a recent concert on light posts along Sam Houston Avenue.
7.
Dr. Darrell Wells. Dr. Wells passed on his opportunity to speak.
8.
Sam Dominev. Mr. Dominey offered to contribute land for soccer field development.
ii
CONSENT AGENDA
1.
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate a contract with First National Bank of Huntsville for banking services and to
name First National Bank of Huntsville as the Depository Bank forthe City of Huntsville for a two -year period beginning
October 1, 2002.
'.; 2.
Accept the bid from Badger Meter, Inc. for pricing on water meters plus trade -in programs.
3.
Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Texas Department of Transportation and Texas
Transportation Institute to cooperate in the regional Intelligent Transportation Systems study at no cost to the City.
4.
Authorize the Mayor to execute the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Exemption
Election Document effective for the plan year October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003.
'.�
5.
Authorize the City Manager to renew the contracts for: Stop Loss and Annual Aggregate coverage to Employers Re-
insurance Corp with a $75,000 specific deductible and a $2,000,000 lifetime maximum amount; and for employee Basic
Life, AD &D coverage and Long Term Disability with Sun Life of Canada.
ICI
6.
Approve the City's participation with Dr. Wood and the University of Kentucky to engage in a joint project to enhance the
City's Pipe2000 software; and authorize the purchase of the network license, the purchase of fouradditional seats, and
upgrade our current three seats to Pipe2000 version 2 at a cost not to exceed $13,900 from budgeted funds.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 BOOK "S" 418
7. Approve Resolution 2002 -09 -17.1, authorizing the submission of an a pplication to the Texas Parks & Wildlife —
Community Outdoor Outreach Program; requesting a grant of $30,000; committing a cash match of $6,000 from the
FY03 Parks & Recreation Program Funds Budget; and designating Patrick Antwi as the Project Official,
8. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Engineering Contract with Ash & Browne Engineering, Inc. in an amount not
to exceed $37,500 for the design of the street extensions to be funded from Street CIP funds.
Councilmember Crawford made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda: and Councilmember Howard seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
STATUTORY AGENDA
Adopt Ordinance 2002 -09 -17.1, approving and adopting the operating and capital improvements budget for the City of
Huntsville, Texas, for the period October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003.
The City Council initiated the budget process in the Spring by providing policy direction for the preparation of the
proposed budget. The budget provides a conservative funding approach for the upcoming year as well as continues with
ensuring preparedness for responding to the future. The budget does achieve the policy ends identified by the Council
and stays within the policies and limitations established by Council.
against.
2. Adopt Ordinance 2002-09-17.2, adopti ng the tax rate and levying taxes for the City of Huntsville for the 2002 -2003 fiscal'..
year upon all taxable property located within and subject to taxation in the city.
During the preparation of the budget, the tax rate thatwas identified that was necessary to support the policyends
identified by the Council is 45 cents. This represents an increase of 1.75 cents of which the increase will be used for
limited street improvements and the construction and equipping of a fire station on the west side of IH-45.
Councilmember Howard made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2002-09-17.2. adopting the tax rate and levying taxes
for the City of Huntsville forthe 2002 -2003 fiscal year upon all taxable property located within and subject to taxation in '
the city; and Councilmember Erb seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 -2 with Councilmembers Crawford and
Escobedo voting against.
3. Adopt Ordinance 2002 -09 -17.3, amending Titles 14, Garbage, Refuse and Rubbish, and 30, Water and Sewers, of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, increasing the rates for sanitation service, water service and sewer service '.'.
provided by the City.
During the preparation of the budget, the Council not only established policy objectives but also reviewed the
financial performance of the City at this point. Small rate adjustments are needed to keep the Water and Solid Waste
funds within the financial policies adopted by the Council. A substantial rate increase is required in order to fund the debt:'
to complete the construction of the Robinson Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant (RCW WTP) and the diversion of the
flow and service addition as part of the RCW WTP project as established by the Council in 1996.
4. Adopt Ordinance 2002 -09 -17.4 authorizing "Updated Service Credits" on an annual basis, providing for increased prior I!
and current service annuities for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees, and providing for increased municipal
contributions to the current service annuity reserve at retirement of City employees; and adopt Ordinance 2002 -09 -17.5
electing for the City to make current service and prior service contributions to the City's account at the actuarially
determined rate of total employee compensation.
The City of Huntsville opted out of Social Security in the early 1980's, opting to participate in its own retirement !'.
system. In early 1990, the City began participating in Texas Municipal Retirement System. Employees currently I',,
contribute 7% of their salary, and the City matches it 1 % to 1.
Several years ago, the City Council elected to cap its participation at 15.5 %. For the past two years, the City has
contributed the difference between the TMRS rate and 15.5% and contributed it to each employees' ICMA 457 account.
This has typically been in the 2.5% range.
One of the compensation and classification study findings regarding benefits is that the City has one of the lowest i
employer contributions in the State. A majority of cities have TMRS and also pay into Social Security. It is recommended j I.
that the City increase the TMRS contribution to the maximum 7% - 2 to 1 City match. This will require that the City '
exceed the 15.5% by .04 %. This also increases the annuity for retirees by 70% of the Consumer Price Index.
Councilmember Howard made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2002-09-17.4 authorizing "Updated Service Credits" on !
an annual basis providing for increased prior and current service annuities for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased
C
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 BOOK "S" 419
5. Approve Resolution 2002 -09 -17.2 supporting the proposal for a State Veterans' Home in Huntsville and the commitment
to provide utilities to the proposed site.
The State Veterans' Home will create about 150 new jobs. According to information gathered from the State
Veterans' Home in Temple, the majority of their residents come from outside the Temple area. Therefore, most of the
revenue generated will come from outside the community and should not adversely affect the occupancy of existing
geriatric centers in the community.
Based on this information, we would consider these 150 positions as basicjobs. Asa rule ofthumb, foreach basic
employee the region will add two new non -basic employees. This being true, the total impact of this facility will be an
increase of approximately 450 jobs in the area.
The projected annual budget for the State Veterans' Home is $4.5 to $5 million. Using a multiplier of 3 and
considering a leakage factor (leakage is the amountspent outside of Huntsville) of 40 %, the State Veterans' Home can
be expected to have a $37 million fiscal impact annually on the Huntsville economy. In addition to the direct impact,
families and friends of residents will travel to Huntsville which will generate additional expenditures in our retail market.
The Request for Proposal requires that all utilities be available atthe boundary of the proposed site and iftheyare
not currently in place, the applicant must be willing to pay to have them in place prior to construction commencing on the
site. The estimated cost to extend water and wastewater to the proposed site is $32,000. The estimated revenue from
the home for the services is $30,000 annually.
Other costs that could be incurred if the proposed site is selected would be street improvements. This cost could
be as much as $350,000; however this investment will be offset by the additional sales tax revenue generated by the
annual fiscal impact of the new jobs created.
Funds have been allocated in the Capital Improvements Program for economic development projects in the
proposed 2002 -2003 budget, which could be used for the project if Huntsville is selected as the site of one of the two
homes to be constructed.
6. Approve Resolution 2002 -09 -17.3, authorizing the City Manager to execute all agreements associated with the Urban
Forestry Partnership Grant, awarded to the City of Huntsville by the Texas Forestry Service on August 27, 2002;
committing the shared cost of the project as described in the grant application; and creating the position of an Urban
Forester in the proposed 2002 -03 budget.
The Urban Forester position funded in part bythis grantwill produce within the first year, a revised landscape and
development ordinance, the compilation of a comprehensive tree inventory and Best Management Practice system for
Huntsville's urban tree cover, and City staff liaison guidance and assistance to the City Council's Beautification Advisory
Committee and the Keep Huntsville Beautiful Program.
The grant application was submitted to the Texas Forest Service on July 17, 2002 in response to identified and yet
unaddressed needs.
Approve Resolution 2002 -09 -17.4, authorizing the submission of an application to the Office of Rural Community Affairs
— Planning and Capacity Building Fund, requesting $50,000 in grant funds, committing a match of $10,000 from the
General Fund and designating the Mayor as the City's Chief Executive Officer and Authorized Representative to act in all
matters in connection with this application and the City's participation in the Texas Community Development Program.
Funds are available from TCDP under the Planning and Capacity Building Fund to help communities become more
involved in the community planning /economic development process. Particular emphasis is placed on planning activities
that address specific problems in the community that may be addressed with monies form other TCDP program
categories.
8. Approve Resolution 2002 -09 -17.5, authorizing the submission of an application to the to the Texas Community
Development Program — Community Development Fund; requesting $350,000 in grant funds; committing a match of
$161,950 from the Wastewater Fund; and designating the Mayor as the City's Chief Executive Officer and Authorized
Representative to act in all matters in connection with this application and the City's participation in the Texas Community
Development Program.
The proposed project represents Phase 2 of a multi - phased effortto complete the provision of sewerservice tothe
Old Colony Road neighborhood. The first phase, currently under construction, is being partiallyfunded by TCDP grant
of $350,000 awarded in May 2001.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 BOOK "S" 420
MAYOR/CITY MANAGER ACTIVITY REPORT
1. City Manager Program /Project Status:
a. The swimming pool grant will be resubmitted next July.
b. The next Old Colony Road clean -up community meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2002.
C. Four -way stop at Veteran's Memorial Parkway and FM 1374 effective October 1, 2002.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance to US and Texas flags prior to invocation will begin at with next agenda.
3. Future Events:
October 8 5:15pm City Council Meeting
October 15 7:OOpm Boards and Commissions Reception
October 29 5:15pm City Council Meeting
November 19 5:15pm City Council Meeting
December 3 -7 National League of Cities Conference
December 17 5:15pm City Council Meeting
RECESS - EXECUTIVE SESSION [7:45 -8:00 p.m.]
The City Council conducted a closed session under Texas Government Code, Chapter 551,Section 551.074 — for the
evaluation of the City Manager and City Secretary. '
ADJOURNMENT [8:00 p.m.]
Danna Welter, City Secretary