MIN CC 10/08/2002CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 08, 2002 BOOK "S"
421
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 8TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2002, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:25 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBERS: OFFICERS: -
William B. Green, Mayor John Escobedo Bob Hart, City Manager
Jack Choate Vance Howard Paul Isham, City Attorney
Ralph A. Davis, Jr. Judy Kayse Danna Welter, City Secretary
Mark Erb Steed Smith
ABSENT: Gary Crawford
EXECUTIVE SESSION [4:15 -5:20 p.m.]
The City Council met in a closed session under Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section 551.074, for the evaluation of
the Judge for Municipal Court.
PROCLAMATION [5:20 p.m.]
Mayor Green read Proclamation 2002 -29, proclaiming October 2002 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
CALL TO ORDER [5:25 p.m.]
Mayor Green called the meeting to order.
INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Manager Bob Hart led the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING on the ACCEPTANCE OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT
No comments.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Tamara Chasteen. Mrs. Chasteen thanked the Council for their efforts with regards to City development, especially
Huntsville's Promise, and raised her concerns including moving the recycling center to another location and concrete
embankments placed at Avenue M/FM 2821 by TXDOT.
2. Karl Davidson. Mr. Davidson spoke at length, requesting that Council not annex any land at this time and not increase
the utility rates.
3. Jon Byrd. Mr. Byrd spoke against annexing the public land in the proposed service plans.
4. Jack Ross. Mr. Ross spoke about his phone bill regarding the additional costs with the Texas Universal Fund surcharge.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Authorize the purchase of a 2003 Mack CV713 Cab and chassis and roll -off hoist for a total of $108,774.00 through
Houston - Galveston Area Council from budgeted funds in the Capital Equipment Replacement Fund.
2. Authorize the purchase of a 2003 Sterling LT 8500 chassis for a rear load refuse truck and a Pak -Mor High Compact
HFE Rear Loader Body for $94,662.00 through Houston - Galveston Area Council from funds budgeted in the Capital
Equipment Replacement Fund.
3. Approve Resolution 2002- 10-08.1, accepting the Robinson Creek Ouffall Sewer Line Project as complete and approve
the final Reconciliation Change Order in the amount of a decrease of $29,268.43.
4. Authorize renewal of software licenses and support services with Sunguard Pentamation for the Financial and Utility
Billing software systems at a cost of $35,000 to be paid from budgeted funds.
5. Approve the annual Intergraph maintenance contract for hardware and software tobe funded from budgeted funds ofthe
Planning and Development Department.
6. Approve budget adjustments as presented.
7. Approve the two Options to Purchase Real Estate from Area Management Services, Inc. and authorize the City Manager
to execute the options, for a total amount not to exceed $29,500 from budgeted funds.
8. Approve a City match of $5,000 from the Reserve for Future Allocations to beapplied toward the TexTreasures grant and
authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Texas State Library to accomplish the terms of the grant.
9. Approve funds in the amount of $30,909 to be taken from the General Capital Improvement Projects Fund to
complete the Block 3 Project to be known as Sallie E. Gibbs Park.
10. Approve the proposed abandonment of the existing fifty -foot utility easement across the Dawson 48 -acre tract balow
for the platting of a sixty-foot right of way for the extensions of Daisy Lane and Tall Timbers Lane.
Councilmember Howard made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda: and Councilmember Kayse seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 08, 2002 BOOK "S" 422
2.
STATUTORY AGENDA f
Approve Ordinance No. 2002 -10 -08.1, annexing Areas "B ", "C ", "E ", "F" and "G" as defined by the attached Service Plan. !
Public Hearings were held by City Council on September 3, 2002 and September 17, 2002 for proposed areas of
Annexation to the City of Huntsville. All areas proposed to be annexed are either owned by the City, the State or the
Federal Government.
Mayor Green spoke briefly about the benefits of extending the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction for cost - savings in !'I
future development and annexation. Councilmember Davis moved that each area be voted on separately; no second
was made.
Councilmember Erb made a motion to approve Ordinance No 2002 -10 -081 annexing Areas "B" "C" "E" "F "and!I
"G" as defined by the attached Service Plan& and Councilmember Smith seconded the motion The motion passed 7 -1 1
with Councilmember Davis voting against Ii
I%
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with TXDOT which prescribes the responsibilities of the State
and the City relating to the installation and maintenance of landscape elements along the state highway routes
within the City.
On April 15, 1997, an agreement was established for the purpose of defining the authority and responsibility for the
maintenance and operation of State highways through the City. This agreement addressed traffic regulations, speed
limits, pavement markings, s ignage, street name signs, lighting, and other issues related to t he state highways. '.'..
However, that contract did not address the issues related to the installation and maintenance of landscape elements
within the state highway routes within the City. TXDOT would like to address that issue with a new Landscape'.
Maintenance Agreement. Once this new contract is approved, City staff will be able to install and maintain landscape
elements including but not limited to trees, shrubs, grasses, sidewalks, irrigation systems, and other hardscape features
on state highways around the City.
3. Approve Ordinance No. 2002 -10 -08.2, authorizing an offer and condemnation, if necessary, of right -of -way for the
improvement of First Street east of Martin Luther King Boulevard.
First Street, east of Martin Luther King Boulevard, is basically a dirt trail. Several years ago the property owners
(Helen Price and Jessie Violette) built a fence across the 'trail". As a result of the fence having been built, several
proper yowners have been denied access to their property and are relying on access across the property of others to get
to and from their property. The City has secured the necessary right -of -way to construct First Street from all property
owners except this particular tract. If this tract were to be acquired, the City would then be able to construct First Street,
thereby providing access to all property along First Street. The City has attempted to negotiate the purchase of the right -
of -way from Helen Price and Jessie Violette, but have been unable to do so. The City engaged Erwin & Associates to
appraise the fair market value of the right-of -way in order to acquire the same.
The ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to convey a final offer in the amount of $7,500.00 as determined by
Erwin & Associates and to acquire the right-of-way by condemnation if the offer is refused.
MAYORICITY MANAGER ACTIVITY REPORT
1. Mayor Green recognized former Mayor and Councilmembers and thanked them for their presence at the meeting:
Mr. Bill Hodges, Mrs. Ila Gaines, Mr. Bill Nash, Mr. Morris Waller, Mrs. Marjorie Rex and Mr. Harley Rex.
2. City Manager Report
a. Golf course— lost some growing time during the wet season, if it stays warm, grass will grow until tempdrops, nine
holes in great shape, sixare marginal, three need some work, damage from erosion has been repaired, looking quite nice
3. Future Events:
October 15 7:00pm Boards and Commissions Reception (to be rescheduled)
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
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Mr. Sablaturaof the Huntsville Observer asked about the final draft of the compensation and classifiicationstudy. Mayor Green
answered that the information will be available on Thursday.
I
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER O8, 2002 BOOK "S"
423
WORK SESSION on PROPOSED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM [6:05 -6:50 p.m.]
City Council conducted a work session on the proposed School Resource Officer Program to be partially funded by a grant
from the Department of Justice.
RECESS - EXECUTIVE SESSION [7:05 -7:53 p.m.]
The City Council conducted a closed session under Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section 551.074 forthe evaluation
of the City Attorney.
ADJOURNMENT [7:53 p.m.]
i
X4na Welter, City Secretary