MIN CC 09/02/2003CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2 2003 BOOK T" 63
j, MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 2ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2003, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:00 P.M.
IL; The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBERS: Judy Kayse OFFICERS:
Karl Davidson, Mayor Steed Smith Paul Isham, Acting City Manager
i Jack Choate Bob Tavenner Donna Welter, City Secretary
Gary Crawford Jim Willett
Vance Howard Mac Woodward
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING [4:45 -5:05 p.m.]
The City Council conducted a work session to discuss financial issues with Ken Davis, P. C., including the general ledger
trail balance report and finance director position.
WORK SESSION [5:10 -5:30 p.m.]
The City Council conducted a work session to discuss Oakwood Cemetery and Brazos Transit District operations.
Mr. Morris Waller, Chair of the Huntsville Cemetery Advisory Board, gave a brief presentation on the history of the
cemetery and the efforts of the Cemetery Advisory Board to expand the cemetery and raise funds. Mr. Waller requested that
the City Council consider and approve the following items at the next Council meeting: (1) approve the acquisition of property
from the Catholic Church (3.5 acres for $10,000), (2) approve the expenditures for moving expenses for the Marin family, (3)
approve the engineering for the extension of a concrete street in the Mayes Addition, (4) approve in principal the use of the
City's name for solicitation of funds from approximately 25 foundations, (5) approve regulations for the use of the cemetery.
Mr. Lyle Nelson, Brazos Transit District, gave a brief description of the services provided locally by the Brazos Transit
District, relative to the agreement with the City. One of the issues raised is that BTD is not listed in the phone book; Mr. Nelson
' stated he would take care of that issue immediately. He also stated that BTD distributed brochures to facilities normally used
by those who utilize their services. Councilmember Choate asked about passengers; Mr. Nelson stated Huntsville has had
15,000- 20,000 riders per year, and the cost of operations annually for Huntsville is $230,000; the City's contribution is
approximately 10% of that total. The reservation program requires 24 -hour advance notice; there are no plans to re- initiate a
fixed route program because of the cost. Mr. Nelson answered several questions regarding BTD services.
CALL TO ORDER [6:00 p.m.]
Mayor Davidson called the regular session to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to US AND TEXAS FLAGS, INVOCATION
Director of Parks and Recreation Ray Black led the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING on the PROPOSED FY 2003 -04 OPERATING BUDGET
1. Emmett Jackson. Mr. Jackson spoke in opposition to the proposed budget.
2. Ruth Webb. Ms. Webb spoke in opposition to the proposed budget.
3. Jan Steinmever. Ms. Steinmeyer spoke at length in opposition to the proposed budget.
4. Darrell Hall. Mr. Hall asked if the hiring freeze was still in effect. Acting City Manager Paul Isham answered yes. Mr.
Hall then expressed concern that the position for'gopher' (Administrative Clerk — part-lime) was advertised. Mr. Hall
also spoke against increasing tax rates, decreasing sewer rates and the increase in fees at Elkins Lake.
5. John Strickland. Mr. Strickland spoke in opposition to the proposed budget, an increase in tax rates, and the currently
high utility rates.
6. Robert Gilliam. Mr. Gilliam spoke against the proposed budget, stating the City should pay off debt first.
7. Valerie Muehsam. Ms. Muehsam spoke against the proposed budget, stating that no SHSU employees would get a
raise this year, similar to the TDCJ personnel issues, and the City should do likewise.
8. Brian Woodward. Mr. Woodward spoke in opposition to the proposed budget, stating the information was not prepared
in an organized manner. Mr. Woodward staled he was not opposed to the City employees getting a cost of living
increase, but the budget is not complete and seems to be not managed well given the reserve status of some funds and
certain projects not completed. He also requested lowering utility rates.
9. Marcus Jones. Mr. Jones stated that the City needs to "stand together and fight together orwe will go down together.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Rhonda Ellisor. Ms. Ellisor gave a brief presentation as a member of the Main Street Advisory Board on the goals,
objectives and successes of the Main Street Program over the past 21/2 years. Ms. Ellisor thanked the City for their
support and requested that the City continue support for this downtown revitalization project.
2. Gerald Norwood. Mr. Norwood spoke in support of the proposed American Legion road extension project.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2003
BOOK "T'
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3. Charles Smither. Jr. Mr. Smither requested a public report on the damages to the golf course from the weekend rains
(man hours, equipment hours and revenues lost).
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve the minutes of the August 5 and 12, 2003 City Council meetings.
2. Authorize the Acting City Manager to execute the Agreement to Construct Public Improvements for Warren
Subdivision as submitted.
3. Approve Resolution 2003 -09 -02.1, approving Huntsville Memorial Hospital to lease equipment from HFDC of
Central Texas, Inc., to satisfy the Texas Health Facilities Development Act, Chapter 221, Section 221 -030, at no
cost to the City.
4. Approve the rehabilitation of the John Smither parking lot located in the 1000 block of University Avenue at a cost
not to exceed $3,020 to be funded from budgeted funds; and authorize the Acting City Manager to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntsville and John Kerr Smither regarding the use of this lot.
STATUTORY AGENDA
Conduct a record vote to establish a property tax rate per$100 of assessed value, and if such vote indicates an intentto
establish a rate equal to or above .437425/$100 (103% of the effective tax rate of .424685/$100), then instruct staff to
publish notice and schedule a public hearing on the proposed tax rate for September 16, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers at City Hall.
7 -2 with Councilmembers Crawford and Kayse voting against.'
2. Considerand take action on City participation in the amount of $137,500 for the extension of Industrial Blvd. for future
land development and cross circulation.
The ultimate development of this proposal will provide a traffic circulation corridor from FM247 to FM 2821 without
having to go thru the intersection of FM 247 and FM 2821. Development potential is occurring on both ends of this i'.
proposed cross circulation route, the American Legion and Prestige Development on the southwesterly end and the
Curtis proposed 47 -acre residential development on the northeasterly end. Prestige Development owns the remaining !.
land in between and is planning a future phased development.
Councilmernber Willett made a motion to approve City Participation in the amount of $137,500 for the extension of
Industrial Blvd. for future land development and cross circulation � and Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 -3 with Mayor Davidson and Councilmembers Tavenner and Woodward voting against
3. Consider and take action on the proposed utility extension request for wastewater service by John Byrd.
Mr. John Byrd has proposed a residential structure on an existing tract immediately outside of the City limits on
Highway 19. He has requested City participation in a 200' sewer extension, ($3,547.50 City and $ 3,547.50 Developer).
This is a standard utility extension request of 1/2 the cost of the first 300' as per the Development Code.
Councilmember Crawford made a motion to approve the or000sed utility extension reguest for wastewater service
by John Bvrd: and Councilmember Kayse seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously
4. Considerand take action on the proposed utility extension request for water service by John Byrd.
Mr. John Byrd has proposed a residential structure on an existing tract immediately outside of the City limits on
Highway 19.
The CIP Development Plan proposes a 12" waterline to be extended east along Highway 19. To extend a
minimum 6" waterline and provide fire protection to the tract is approximately 1530 I.f. at a cost of $35,440.
The Developer has proposed installing a private water well ate cost of $4,125.00 to offset the cost referenced above.
Staff recommends the extension of a 12" waterline with City CIP crews at a material cost of $18,000 with Mr. Byrd
contributing the cost of the water well ($4,125) to this effort. The cost of the water extension to the City would be $13,875
and to Mr. Byrd $4,125.
This expenditure would: Provide Mr. Byrd with City Water; Provide Fire Protection to the tract; Allow for future
development to extend water eastward along Hwy. 19; and Conform to the CIP Development Plan. ,
Without City participation related to the water extensions, the property will develop with a private water well and
effectively block future water extensions in the future.
Councilmember Tavenner made a motion to table this item until a future meeting; and Councilmember Woodward '
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 BOOK T" 65
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5. Consider and take action on the purchase of Digital Recording equipment and software from FTR Goldin an amount of
$17,080 to be funded from the General Fund reserve for future allocation.
Switching to digital recordings supports numerous cost saving efficiencies in council meeting and work sessions.
Its CD storage is far more economical than cassettes, both in terms of capacity per disk and the space saved in media
archiving. In addition, digital recording radically reduces the man -hours required to complete review. Advantages of this
solution are: Sound quality improvement of recordings; Cost effectiveness of digital over tape; Storage can facilitate
years of meetings on a single disk; A CD archive is always available to you with time stamp; Digital recording can be
easily formatted to text; Decreased cost of replacement; Each agenda item is searchable, thereby cutting down access
time of location of recording.
2.
MAYORICITY MANAGER ACTIVITY REPORT
Mayor /City Manager / Councilmember Report.
a. Mayor Davidson appointed Councilmembers Judy Kayse (Chair), Vance Howard and himself to the Council
Community Information Committee.
b. Appoint Maxie Farris to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
C. City Council discussed scheduling the
Future Events:
for October 25 -26, 2003.
September 9
5:OOpm
Budget/Tax Rate Work Session
September 16
6:OOpm
City Council Meeting; Budget Adoption (work session begins at 5:OOpm)
September 30
Boards & Commissions Reception
October 7
6:OOpm
City Council Meeting (work session begins at 5:00pm)
October 21
6:OOpm
City Council Meeting (work session begins at 5:OOpm)
ADJOURNMENT [7:30 p.m.]
Danna Weller, City Secretary