MIN CC 09/06/2005CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 BOOK "T"
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 6TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2005, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:00 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
Steed Smith
OFFICERS:
J. Turner
Bob Tavenner
Kevin Evans, City Manager
Mickey Evans
Jim Willett
Danna Welter, City Secretary
Judy Kayse
Mac Woodward
Thomas Leeper, City Attorney
Jack Choate
313,989
Hotel -Motel Tax
Clarence W. Griffin
Other
3,29
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE [5:02 p.m. — 5:17 p.m.]
The Personnel Committee met and discussed the organizational study.
WORK SESSION [5:35 p.m. — 5:55 p.m.]
City Council held a work session and discussed wayfinding.
CALL TO ORDER [6:04 p.m.]
Mayor Turner called the regular session to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to US AND TEXAS FLAGS, INVOCATION
Ray Black, Director of Parks and Recreation, led the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING (on the proposed FY 2005 -06 annual budget)
a. Karl Davidson. Mr. Davidson stated that he had attended most of the budget session and felt Council had done a good
job in putting together the current budget.
b. Jack Wagamon. Mr. Wagamon spoke in favor of a bond election to decide the Aquatic Center issue. '
C. Delora King. Ms. King commented on the proposed budget.
d. Mac Woodward. Councilmember Woodward presented a short power point presentation detailing the current proposed -
budget.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only)
a. Marsh Miller, Jr. Mr. Miller commented on the Aquatic Center and encouraged City Council to move forward.
b. Allen Sapp. Mr. Sapp encouraged City Council to approve the Aquatic Center funding as soon as possible and
proceed with the project.
CONSENTAGENDA
a. Approve minutes of August 16 and 23, 2005.
b. Approve trust property bid approval as recommended by Grover Cook, Chief Appraiser.
STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Approve Ordinance 2005 -09 -06.1 approving and adopting the operating and capital improvements budget for the
City for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.
Mr. Duke presented City Council with an ordinance with a total appropriations of $55,998,962. The breakdown is as
follows:
General Fund
13,297,820
Debt Service Fund
2,345,770
Water Fund
10,073,671
Wastewater Fund
7,485,507
Solid Waste Fund
3,484,176
Street Fund
2,357,043
SRO Fund
313,989
Hotel -Motel Tax
396,304
Other
3,29
Capital Projects
12,947474747 3
mber Willett made a motion to approve
'
Ordinance 2005 -09 -06.1 approving and adopting the operating
ivements hurinet for the Citv for the nprind Clctnhpr 1 70n5 thrnnnh SPntpmhpr in ?nna and .
Councilmember Evans cautioned the public that the City has some projects coming up and it is great that we are
planning to adopt the effective tax rate this year, but the City will not be able to do that every year.
b. Authorize the Director of Public Safety to accept a Tobacco Compliance Grant in an amount of $4,000.
Huntsville Police Department has received this grant in previous years and great success has been achieved. This
u
I
CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 6 2005 BOOK T" 247
grant allows a focused group of officers to communicate to retailers the current laws of the sale of tobacco products
to minors under the age of 18 years is illegal and conduct on -site controlled buys of tobacco products.
—fl— t,. o„thnrbp the rlirpctnr of Puhlin Safpty to aurent a Tnhaccri Comnliance
C. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Ferguson Service Systems, Inc. in an amount of $98,990 for
construction of Spring Lake Water Plant Improvements to be funded from budgeted project funds.
The purpose of this project is to maintain acceptable water pressure from the Spring Lake Water Treatment Plant
during times of high demand. High demands occur during peak usage times and during times of fighting fires. Currently,
the pump station is operated manually. This means an operator must turn on pumps as needed. Construction of this
project will automate pump operations and maintain an acceptable pressure from the plant.
d. Approve Ordinance 2005 -09 -06.2 establishing an interim order to require CenterPoint Energy Entex to publish
notice of certain rate changes in a conspicuous manner, to re -file its statement of intent using a current test year,
and to contact the City Manager regarding its intentions and related matters.
On June 30, CenterPoint requested that new rates be adopted in its Beaumont/East Texas and South Texas Divisions,
except in Tyler the request was filed on August 5, 2005. The request was based upon a March 31, 2004 ending test year.
The historic test year relied upon by CenterPoint is stale and out of date. CenterPoint published notice that it had filed the rate
request but the notice was defective in all cities, except for Longview. The Interim Order Ordinance is an attempt to bring
CenterPoint into compliance with state law.
e. Authorize the City Manager to proceed with the revised directional sign program in an amount of $7,470 to be
funded from existing budgeted funds.
In September2001, Chandler, Brooks & Donohoe prepared a Tourism Development Plan forthe Cityand Chamber. As
part of that plan, they recommended placement of "directional attractions and amenities signage at various locations"
throughout the City. To that end, the City contracted with f2Ds to conduct a wayfinding studylplan for design and other
recommendations. That plan was not funded due to many concerns, including funding and design issues.
Harold Hutcheson, Main Street Manager, Rhonda Ellisor, Chamber of Commerce VP, and David Welch, City Street
Division Superintendent, have developed a revised wayfnding plan to address the tourism need, specifically addressing
directional signage with a more practical approach that can be funded through the balance of the f2Ds project balance. The
sign design (shape) has been changed although the color scheme has been left in place. Placement of the signs has been
designated for the following eight locations: Oakwood Cemetery, Sam Houston Museum grounds, SHSU, Joe Byrd Cemetery,
The Historical Downtown District, the Prison Museum, the Chamber Visitors Center, and the Wynne Home Arts Center.
After discussion a second motion was made.
Councilmember Tavenner made a motion to table this item and Councilmember Woodward seconded the motion.
All were in favor except Councilmembers Choate and Kayse The motion passed 7 -2.
f. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc. to conduct an
organizational study at a cost not to exceed $16,500 to be funded from budgeted funds.
Notices were sent to various consulting firms in early August requesting proposals be submitted to conduct an
organizational study.
The object of the study is a comprehensive operational effectiveness review of the entire organization, including:
• Determining operational effectiveness of the City's organizational structure;
• Identifying opportunities for reorganizing Cityoperations where appropriate, including outsourcing certain functions if
applicable; and
• Identifying potential cost savings opportunities through operational redesign, creation or elimination of certain
positions, or other improvements.
The consulting firm chosen would provide written documentation of findings and proposed solutions, to include:
• Evaluation of current organizational structure and operational effectiveness;
• Recommended solutions, where appropriate, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in organizational structure and
staffing, service improvements and information systems; and
Identification of potential cost savings to be achieved through implementation of recommendations.
•Responses were due by close of business on Monday, August 29, 2005. Five responses were received. Staff has
reviewed and recommend award of this contract to Abbott Langer & Associates, Inc. given (1) the scope of services to be
Ali provided, (2) total cost, and (3) time frame in which the project will be completed.
!! Councilmember Willet made a motion to table this item forfurther information and Councilmember Choate seconded the
motion All were in favor except Councilmembers Evans and Woodward The motion passed 7 -2
CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 BOOK "T"
248
g. Approve Budget Amendments.
This item was pulled from the agenda.
MAYOR / COUNCILMEMBER I CITY MANAGER REPORT
a. Update on pending or contemplated litigation.
b. Update on land acquisition.
These items were discussed in Executive Session.
C. Authorize the City Manager to proceed with preparatory action on the aquatic center financing with either a) tax
anticipation notes; b) certificates of obligation; or c) bond election in November.
d. Approve Mayor's Board and Commission appointments:
Economic Development Council — reappoint David Ward, Jack Olsta, Ed Sandhop and Tom Fordyce
Main Street Program Advisory Committee — appoint Robert Ernst, Larry Johnson, Lee Jamison, Sam Moak and
Diana K. Barnes;
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board — reappoint Maxie Farris and appoint Woody Woods; '..
Planning and Zoning — appoint Shelley Solow and Jack Wagamon;
Youth Advisory Board — appoint Jackie Pace and Dalia Harrrelson as adult members, and appoint Morgan
Allyn, Tara Armstrong, Kelbee Oliphant and Casey Schindler as youth members;
Arts Commission — reappoint Ila Gaines as Commissioner, reappoint Ann Hodges and Margaret Smith as
advisory members and appoint Gene Myrick and Jim Balzaretti as advisory members;
Beautification Advisory Committee — reappoint Debra Gilbert and appoint Janet Ridley and Hazel Wyatt.
Councilmember Smith made a motion to table the board and commission appointments and Councilmember Kayse
seconded the motion. The motion Passed unanimously.
e. Approve City Council's Board and Commission appointments:
TIRZ Board — reappoint Bob Tavenner, Sam Dominey and Todd Armstrong.
Councilmember Kayse made a motion to table the TIRZ Board appointments and Councilmember Willett seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
,
None.
MEDIA
Karl Davidson. Mr. Davidson, with the COG Reporter asked questions regarding unallocated reserves and the aquatic
center project.
ADJOURNMENT [7:20 p.m.]
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Danna Welter, City Secretary
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