Minutes - 04/15/2014
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 15 DAY OF APRIL 2014, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:00 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish
Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
WORKSHOP SESSION \[4:00 PM\] - Discussion on monument entry and way-finding signage consultant. Followed by
workshop on Capital Improvement Projects scheduling, disposition, and planning.
City Manager Matt Benoit presented information on way-finding signage and monument entry consulting, design, and installation.
Mike Goebel gave an update on the Capital Improvement Projects schedule.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00PM\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Humphrey gave an invocation and Gary Holl from the YMCA led the
pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
National Library Week/School Library Month Proclamation
Brooke Addams for Relay for Life events
Parliamentary Law Month Proclamation
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no comments.
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 Workshop and Regular Session held on April 1, 2014. \[Lee Woodward,
City Secretary\]
b. Ratification of Ordinance 2014-29 for FY13-14 budget amendment for speed cushions on River Oaks (installation
per Resolution 2014-10 approved on April 1, 2014). \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
c. Adopt Ordinance 2014-25 revising the City of Huntsville Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan,
second reading. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
d. Approve the tax sale bids for trust properties GEO ID 8722-002-0-00700, West Lake Shores, Section 2, Block 2,
Lot 7, Property ID 38292; GEO ID 9100-020-0-04120, Woodlawn East, Lot 41.2, Property ID 39350; and GEO ID
9200-019-0-03620, Woodlawn North, Lot 36.2, Property ID 39429 as recommended by Walker County Appraisal
District. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
e. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with TxDOT for exchange of land at and adjacent to the
location of the City’s Water Well No. 13. \[Y.S. Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
f. Approve an agreement for Municipal Court Judge Services with John R. Gaines. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmembers Montgomery and
Johnson. The motion passed unanimously.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to enter into an interlocal agreement
with Walker County for the operations of the new County jail facilities located at 655 FM 2821, Huntsville, Walker
County, Texas, 77320. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director, and Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into an interlocal agreement with Walker County for
the operations of the new County jail facility and was seconded by Councilmember Emmett. The City Manager asked the
Council consider postponing the item until May 6. Councilmember Humphrey moved to postpone the item to the May 6
meeting and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting
against.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for
professional janitorial services from Kemp & Sons for a period of one year, with the option to renew one
additional year and to expire in May 2016. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for professional janitorial services
from Kemp & Sons for a period of one year, with the option to renew one additional year and to expire in May 2016. and
was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion passed unanimously.
c. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion and possible action to approve the Retention Incentive Payment and
adopt Ordinance 2014-27 for the associated budget amendment. \[Julie O’Connell, Human Resources Director\]
There was no action on this first reading. Councilmember Rodriquez was told that an annual step increase based on
merit was funded but that the retention incentive was a one-time payment and was not a recurring expense.
Councilmember Humphrey asked Mr. Benoit to provide the number of employees at the top of their pay grade.
d. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion and possible action to authorize the City Manager to award a
construction contract to 5-T Utilities, Inc. for waterline replacement along U.S. Hwy 190 project construction and
adopt Ordinance 2014-30 for the associated budget amendment. \[Y.S. Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
There was no action on this first reading.
e. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion and possible action to suspend the rates proposed by the
CenterPoint GRIP filing made on March 31, 2014, and adopt corresponding Ordinance 2014-31. \[Leonard
Schneider, City Attorney\]
There was no action on this first reading. City Attorney Leonard Schneider noted the action was to allow for statutory
review by the law firm representing a coalition of cities.
f. Presentation and discussion on the Development Code revision process. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community
and Economic Development\]
The Council discussed the sign issues to be considered, especially in regard to business needs and aesthetics.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation and discussion on Budget Overview and Policy Discussion for the 2014-2015 Fiscal Year \[Matt
Benoit, City Manager and Steve Ritter, Finance Director\].
Revenues in excess of reserves were projected in most funds and the proposed budget schedule was presented.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on the nomination of Pattillo, Brown, & Hill, LLP as the Certified
Public Accountant for the City for FY2013-14 auditing and reporting. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward nominated Pattillo, Brown, & Hill, LLP as the Certified Public Accountant for the City for FY2013-14
auditing and reporting. The motion passed unanimously.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide Council direction to the City Manager with respect to the
maintenance and care of vacant City-owned lots. \[Councilmember Allen\]
Councilmember Allen moved the full Council direct the City Manager to maintain City-owned lots and was seconded by
Councilmember Rodriquez. Councilmember Allen asked that the City Manager report back at a Council meeting on how the
issue would be handled. Aron Kulhavy responded to a question from Councilmember Brauninger to say that 25 lots were not part
of the parks system or held City facilities, and addressed how those lots would be addressed or were categorized. The motion
passed, 7-2, Councilmembers Johnson and Humphrey voting against.
d. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
There was no report.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry DeWitt requested public hearings for the Rules of Procedure, especially Section 3.16, and in relation to item 11.b, and
requested all Public Comments be extended to five minutes.
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.)
Mayor Woodward announced the Relay for Life at the high school at 6 p.m. on May 2. He also noted applications for non-profit
or HOT funding were due by 5 p.m. on May 2. The Mayor said the SHSU Women’s Bowling Team won the National
Championship. Councilmember Olson noted the Farmer’s Market would begin soon, along with the Tall Pines Quilt Guild
Show. He added that Thursday, May 1, would be the Downtown Business Alliance’s Wine Down, Shop Small. He also
reminded everyone of the free music series the next two Fridays at Rather Park. Mayor Woodward said the General Sam
Houston Folk Festival would be on May 2-4 and invited all to attend.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section
551.074 - personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, for City Secretary Lee Woodward. \[Mayor Woodward\]
b. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code 551.071 – to receive legal
advice on Cause Number 26557, City v. Randy Gardner and Cause Number 26558, City v. Randy Gardner and
John Cooper. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Mayor adjourned the City Council into Executive Session at 8:40 p.m.
12. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The City Council reconvened at 10:13 p.m. Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the Mayor to negotiate an updated
contract with the City Secretary. The motion passed unanimously.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 10:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary