Loading...
MIN CC 04/14/1992CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 1992 BOOK 'R" 43 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 14TH DAY OF APRIL, 1992 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:30 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following members present: W. H. Hodges, Mayor Officers: Gary Bell William 11. Knolls, Jr. Gene Pipes, City Manager Ila G. Gaines Ronald L. Lange Scott Bounds, City Attorney William B. Green Dan S. Davis Melba Byers, City Secretary James L. Carter ABSENT: Charles Robinson „ CTTIZENSIINPUT INQUIRY Mayor Hodges called the meeting to order and asked if anyone would like to make any comments in this portion of the meeting. There were no comments. REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER There was no citizen input/inquiry; therefore, Mayor Hodges called the regular session to order. Invocation by City Attorney, Scott Bounds. CONSIDER MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 1992 Councilmember Gaines made a motion to approve the minutes of April 7, 1992, and Councilmember Green seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. NOTE: Councilmember Carter mentioned on page 2, the wording should read 10th instead of 10 regarding mowing of the street right -of -ways. Correction made in permanent minutes ATTENDING CITIZENS No activity. CONSIDER MANAGEMENT - EFFICIENCY STUDY Consider Recommendation of Professional Group to perform Management- F.frciency Study. Councilmember Bell made a motion to accept the services of MGT at a cost of $48,000 to provide an overall comprehensive management survey of the City of Huntsville. Councilmember Green made a second. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Bell distributed materials which provided further clarification regarding strengths and weaknesses of MGT. Both I Councilmembers Bell and Green had made additional reference contacts and it was their consensus that MGT was the first choice for purposes of performing the in -depth study desired by the City of Huntsville. Councilmember Green stated that one source of contact had indicated they had instituted virtually every recommendation that had been suggested to them, they were using their format that had been established and it had saved them a considerable amount of money. There were some changes that had to be made with the City being credited with positive changes and the management group taking responsibility for all negative responses. All recommendations were from City Staff not Council Members. '.. Councilmember Gaines stated she is still not convinced on securing services for a management study to be performed at this time, due the cost, and possibly there were other methods to perform this service; however, she felt the Council should be unanimous in the decision to bring somebody on board.', Councilmember Bell did inform all Couttcilmembers that MGT does have some expertise in evaluating engineering and architectural aspects of City Government so that particular concern is no longer a concern. The other concern was the length of time the management personnel would be on site. They have informed Councilmember Bell their full team will be here rive days and at least the team leader will be here as many as fourteen days. Councilmember Robinson stated he did have reservations due to the cost but will follow the Council's suit. He also stated he felt CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 1992 BOOK 'R" 44 Councilmember Green stated that he has had some level of apprehension about this study from the beginning, not for the reason . we shouldn't do it, but concerns that the consulting firm will just give us what we had told them we wanted or that the Council' could direct the study per their own individual agendas. We have stressed to the management team that we do not want to make this anyone's agenda -- to make it an objective study, to say whatever falls where it may. 1, personalty, am convinced that we can get an objective study and that they would not allow this to become anybody's agenda. Councilmember Lange questioned the time frame. Councilmember Green stated they had already begun preliminary work. Councilmember Bell stated they had also asked for extensive documentation. Mayor Hodges stated we would like to have this in place before we go into budget session for the next fiscal year. Councilmember Bell stated that MGT solicits employee input'. as a positive side of this study -- not as a hatchet job. Councilmember Knotts stated supervision will be needed, which he felt could be provided, and we should demand a good product - before it is accepted. CONSIDER POLICY ON MOWING RIGIIT -OF -WAYS Consider Changing the Previously Approved Policy on Mowing City R'gbt- of-Ways. Mayor Hodges discussed that a policy had previously been passed not to mow the City Right -Of -Ways until the middle of May. Councilmember Robinson had asked that this policy be reviewed due to citizens being concerned about grass and weeds growing too high at homes, sidewalks not useable due to overhang from excessively tall brush, snakes, rats and other creepy crawling things as a danger to citizens. City Manager', Pipes discussed the difficulty in selective mowing with tractors. Councilmember Knotts stated that on the cultural study and citizen comments are, "we need to clean this town up ". Councilmember Gaines stated she had received a number of phone calls and visits from citizens who have expressed the same concern especially since the Folk Festival is coming up soon and we will have many visitors in our City. Also, festival personnel are concerned that signs erected will not be seen. Councilmember Lange stated that ' he originally voted to keep the wild Bowers; however, he stated he did not see that many wild Bowers in the right -of -ways of the City. He, in fact, is concerned about how our right -of -ways are looking. Councilmember Carter stated he is frustrated about this issue. However, he did appreciate the way Councilmember Robinson expressed himself regarding his concerns regarding this issue. He felt the Council could not reach a consensus regarding the wild Bower issue. Councilmember Knotts made a motion to change the policy to mow the right -of -ways, with a second by Councilmember Robinson. The motion passed eight for and one against. NOTE: Councilmember Carter voted against. CONSIDER ORDINANCE 92 -4 -14.1 This item is tabled for a future meeting. CONSIDER MONTHLY TAX REPORT Consider Monthly Tax Report. City Manager Pipes discussed the adjusted monthly tax report for March which requires Council knowledge and action. Motion made by Councilmember Robinson to approve the report with a second by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER RESOLUTION 92.4 -12.1 Consider Resolution 92 -4 -12.1 Authorizing the Issuance of Trinity River Authority of Texas Contract Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1992 (City of Huntsville Sewer Project). City Manager Pipes stated Council had approved this previously but the bond market has improved so that staff was able to improve the figures to save the City approximately $100,000.00. This is the resolution authorizing the Trinity River Authority Board, who meets in Huntsville next Wednesday the 22nd, to issue these bonds given the favorable market situation that exists at the present time. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve this resolution with a second by Councilmember Bell- The motion passed unanimously. City Manager Pipes stated one other item regarding TRA, Jim Simms, who is graciously with us tonight, gave the City a refund CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 1992 BOOK "R" 45 dbee %r Bier- aTance due -(W -CRY -o uu requirements for the Huntsville Regional Water Supply System during the fiscal year 1991. The total amount refunded has been determined by end of year audit which amounted to $91,127.66 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT �) Consider Supplemental Agenda Item to Approve Preliminary Official Statement Related to Issuance of City of Huntsville, Texas, Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer System Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1992. Councilmember Carter made a motion to approve this preliminary official statement with a second by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously. Consider the City of Huntsville Revenue Bonds that Staff has been working on simultaneously with TRA Issue. Similarly, the market has improved and Council's authorization is needed so the bonds can be sold on the 27th. The savings are projected in -- the market prospect at this time. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve this authorization with a second by Councilmember Bell. The motion passed unanimously. No activity. MAYOR'S ACTATTY REPORT CITY COUNCILMEMBER ACTION Councilmember Carter. I received a phone call from James Long, Professor of Biological Sciences, who has been appointed to head a committee at SHSU working on recycling the campus. He stated to me that their committee is ready to make recommendations to Sam Houston and would like to have a meeting with TDCJ and City personnel to discuss coordination of efforts. Dr. Long also stated that his committee had found what they think is about a $20,000 a year savings through recycling. Mayor Hodges requested City Manager Pipes contact Dr. Long and return to Council with all information. Councilmember Carter raised a question about the salvage operation -- where we stand and what is happening. City Manager Pipes stated we are on a front burner and out for proposals which are to be presented to Council on the 28th. Councilmember Carter raised a question regarding the lease of the old Rice Supermarket building and how it affects the budget. City Manager Pipes stated this money was from a reserve fund for economic development and capital improvements. There is li no specific requirement to have a time limit. Certainly, Council can establish one. We have previously reported that there was is a construction project was on hold due to the financial market and hope that there will be lower interest rates. I have heard that there is some expectation that there will be some construction activity in the not too distant future. I do think that Council could consider some sort of time limitations on the initial participation in the building work, but it is certainly not out of the general fund budget - -has not been - -but is out of a reserve for that specific purpose and can be allocated to anybody that comes along -- first come, first serve basis. This is not a line item in the City Budget. City Manager Pipes will return to Council with an update on this matter MEDIA INQUIRIES No activity. Mayor Hodges recessed to an Executive Session to consider Item A, which is the personnel committee, to be conducted by Councilmember Bell, and, Item B will be tabled for another council meeting. ADJOURNMENT Melba y'ers City Secretary