MIN CC 06/09/1992CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK "R" 58
_.. 1992 IN THE CITY
HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 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:
W. H. Hodges, Mayor Officers:
James L. Carter William H. 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
Gary Bell ABSENT: Charles Robinson
Mayor Hodges convened the City Council meeting into session and recessed into executive session to discuss real
estate acquisitions: (1) Utility Easements in the Hi -Lo Water Project Area - Avenue N, Avenue L 1/2, & 20th Street, and (2)
pending litigation via Transco vs Parsley, et al.
Mayor Hodges adjourned the executive session and reconvened the City Council meeting into regular session.
CITIZENS INPUT /INQUIRY
Debbie Dean, Administrator of Kids Only Day Care Center, was requesting the opportunity to have a permit to use the
City property adjacent to them for outdoor play space. She stated that they are willing to take full responsibility of taking care
of the property during the time of use. All landscaping would be done as requested by Council, mowing would be done, put the
fence up, there will be no lock on the gate, anyone using the library would have full access to this property at any time. We would
have some play equipment and maybe another picnic table. We see it as being used as a park also. We are fully covered with
liability insurance and the City would not be responsible for anything.
Mayor Hodges stated, that is an agenda item later this evening. I would like to ask Council while you are here if they
would like to ask you any questions in that regard, if not, we will take it up in formal session.
Councilmember Knots asked how much playground equipment would you imagine you would put on that site. Ms. Dean '
stated, we are looking at a swing set which will be made of redwood. It would have two swings and a slide. Everything else, we
can carry in and out. Councilmember Knotts asked, weren't you aware of these regulations (40 T.A.C. 81.410). Ms. Dean stated,
yes. We understand the regulations, We are required to have 80 square feet of outdoor play space per child. There are some
ways to get around this if we have to. We prefer not to. To get around it, we just work through their policies and procedures
and we may have to take a little less in some areas because of it. But, it won't hinder us as far as staying open.
Mayor Hodges stated, do I understand that regulations the Stale puts on you is you have to have a secure fenced in play
area? Ms. Dean replied, yes sir. Mayor Hodges stated, there is no problem with your day care center or anybody using the City
property. As a matter of fact, Councilmember Gaines pointed out earlier that the First Baptist Church takes their children to
Rather Park on a regular basis. So you do have other ways of getting around it. Ms. Dean stated, we prefer not to since it will
limit us to child staff ratio. There were no other questions and Mayor Hodges thanked Ms. Dean for her comments and invited
her to stay for the discussion and voting in the formal session.
Mardi Carey, Co -Chair of the Sister Cities Committee, gave a brief report on the May trip to Niiharu, Gimma, Japan
by our local delegation. She stated they were warmly received and treated royally. Ms. Carey stated they brought home a lot of
good ideas for our Sister Cities activities. Mr. Carey was present to present portions of three 90 minute tapes made of the trip.
He started with the arrival of the official delegation. Mayor Suzuki met the delegation. Al our surprise, there was a huge
receiving line, which really impressed the delegation. The American Flag and the Texas Flag were on top of their city hall. The
large banner decorating City Hall was their official welcome to us. Three officials welcomed us. Mayor Hodges made a speech
stating his appreciation for an invitation to visit their city. Also, lie stated, last year he had the opportunity to introduce members
of the Huntsville City Council and members of the Sister Cities Delegation to them. Today, I would like to introduce all of the
Huntsville delegation who has traveled with me. Ms. Carey staled, I truly believe that Huntsville has made a good choice in
choosing a sister city since we have so much in common. You will be seeing terrain which is very important, high mountains,
beautiful valleys, flowers everywhere and the people. Their welcome reflected the atmosphere. They are a destination resort city,
tourism oriented, such as we are, so I think we are in sync with each other. Mayor Suzuki presented the key of the City to Mayor ,
Hodges, followed by presentation of a plaque. A group photo was shown to Council. When we start with Mayor Hodges remarks
at our farewell party, this is when he will be presenting the City's official gift, the beautiful quilt hanging. When we get to the
actual party and after presentation of the quilt hanging, Mayor Suzuki returns his greetings. IIe makes the entire delegation
honorary citizens of the city. We were all presented with beautiful scrolls proclaiming this, many other gifts and then the absolute
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK 'R" 59
highlight -I wvantT no is at e end ot the officiar exc ange. a evemng goes o a musical treat which is a dueL between mayoi
Suzuki and Mayor Hodges. Their first number was "I Left My IIeart In San Francisco ". There was so much applause, they
followed by Elvis' "Love Me Tender ". Instead of having a formal dinner with a group, we were all taken by a family into their
home and treated royally. Two City Officials, Mr. Carey and Mr. Wright were trying out the golf course. They get up those
mountains by very unique escalators. They have six escalators and three elevators on the golf course. They also have special golf
carts. Ms. Carey stated she would like to acknowledge our Chief of Police who did a magnificent job during the whole trip. Ile
went to every department, found out exactly how the departments. operate. We will be having a party later, when we get these
tapes edited, which the Council will be invited to. The total remarks of the Chief can be heard at this party.
The idea of the quilt hanging was conceived by Mrs. Ann Hodges, and as you know, the quilt was made by the people,
at the Grandpersons Center. Mayor Hodges stated we have taken many photographs, you have a beautiful village, a beautiful
country, and we have a beautiful friendship. It is very important for us to continue this friendship. Mayor Suzuki, if you would i!
- come forward, we have a gift for you. This is a gift from the people of Huntsville. Ms. Carey pointed out that Mrs. Hodges was �I
asked to be there and point out the areas as the hanging was described. Mayor Hodges pointed out that the natural scenery for
which Huntsville is famous is depicted in this medium of quilting. The design shows the rolling hills, the winding roads, the piney
woods and wild Bowers around the countryside. Members of the Grandpersons Center have demonstrated their skills in making
this quilt. Since the Japanese revere their older citizens, it is hoped that this gift will be accepted in the spirit of peace and
friendship. On the back side of the quilt, we have the signatures of all the ladies who made it. This quilt is from our City to your
City. Also, Mayor Suzuki, we have a gift for you. This gift was a poster of the quilt which was made with the cooperation of
Revelle's. So, Mayor, thank you one more time for a wonderful stay in Japan, stated Mayor Hodges,
Mayor Suzuki received the hanging with appropriate comments and appreciation. Mayor Suzuki presented Mr. Smith
and myself with gold pins as the two Co-Chairmen of Sister Cities and other gifts to all of the delegation. Then we got to the
singing. Mayor Hodges stated, we are going to pass on that. A very popular past -time of the Japanese is a music machine they
have which is a marvel of the ages and costs $60,000. The words and music to anything you want to sing is played. All you have
to do is sing along with your accompaniment, stated Ms. Carey.
REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hodges called the regular session to order. Invocation by Councilmember Davis.
CONSIDER MINUTES OF MAY 26, 1992
Councilmember Gaines made a motion to approve the minutes of May 5 1992 and Councilmember lane seconded
the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. NOTE: Councilmember Robinson was absent.
Councilmember Knotts noted that the Noah Speer proposal should have read the City would do the design, do the bidding and
manage the construction. Correction noted. The motion and correction passed unanimously.
ATTENDING CITIZENS
Marti Car ev report was included under "Citizen Input/Inquiry Session ".
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92- 6 -9 -.1
Mayor Hodges reported that this is an item we had previously passed and this is the second reading of the Southwestern
Bell Telephone Franchise Agreement. Councilmember Knolls stated, to me this is a tax to the citizens of Huntsville and I would
like for this to be published by the news media as a tax increase to the citizens in the City of Huntsville. Also, I would not like
to increase the ad valorem taxes this next budget year because of this increase. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve
this ordinance with a second by Councilmember Gaines. Councilmember Green stated he had a couple of comments even tbough
he made a motion to approve this ordinance. There are some things about the contract that I had some questions about because
they are not specifically addressed in the contract. One has to do with the actual allocation of the rates between individual user
residents and distances. There is nothing in the contract that even addresses that issue at all. The City Attorney and I talked
about the rates between residential and commercial, which is not addressed either. It is only addressed in a lump sum amount
that the City will receive. Although that is an issue, evidently it is something that I am at least led to believe is not determined
by us but is determined by the company in conjunction with PUC or PUC altogether. Councilmember Knotts stated, another thing "..
I mentioned is how TDC and Sam I- Ious[on will be handled. Councilmember Green said, [here is nothing in here that indicates i
i
how that compensation is to be received, which is a question mark that I would like to see in there, but evidently it is not �?
something the City has any authority to address at all, but rather something that is done with the PUC. The second thing that
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK "R 60
_ _isTtor real -clear tome -haszs growttrtacmri5- ttcataTLd.- 11 mindlaldvaf -ttsers unteas
there is something in there formula -wise as to how the allocations take place, whether it's per user basis or strictly a lump sum '
amount. Again, City Attorney Bounds has led me to believe this is something that the City has no ability to set. So, I make the
motion to pass it with reservations simply because there is some uncertainty there, but it is not something that we have any ability
to control. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER TIIE PERMIT /LEASE AGREEMENT
This is a request from Kids Only Day Care Center for use of City property north of the Library parking lot and is
something you heard discussed in the Citizen Input/Inquiry Session. City Manager Pipes stated, staff has been discussing this
matter for some time and obviously staff has become aware that this is a substantial policy matter in terms of the use of City
property/public property and any authorization must come from City Council. We don't have a precedent to operate from and,
have provided the information to you as available from the Kids Only Day Care Center.
Mayor Hodges stated, if the Council does nothing, it does not pass and does not go into effect. If you want to grant''.
this request then we have to act on it.
Councilmember Carter made a motion that we grant the use of the land with a second by Councilmember Lange. At
this point, Councilmember Gaines stated, while I am very sympathetic with their problem, I think we are getting into something
that probably has to do with private business and I am not comfortable with that at all. There are a lot of day care centers mid
each of them have regulations that they have to meet. If we, in fact, do make this particular piece of property available for a
private entity, I think perhaps we are setting a precedent that I'm not comfortable with. I feel like if, in fact, we do this, we are
giving an edge to that particular group then possibly other day care centers would say, you have given them an edge and all of
us have to meet the same regulations. I don't have any problem with them using the property, but I do have a problem with us .
putting a fence around it even though it would be open to the public. By virtue of the fact that you have a fence around it, there -
is a psychological thing there that would prevent other people feeling free to use that properly as public property and I would not
vote for it for those reasons.
Councilmember Bell asked, would we take an active role in checking the insurance each year? I notice that the Day '
Care Center is insured until May 21, 1993. Say on May 22, 1993 the Day Care Center for financial reasons canceled their
insurance. Are we opening ourselves to liability. Mayor Hodges stated, I suspect so. I notice the limits on their policy is $600,000.
If a settlement was greater than $600,000, then the City would be held liable.
Councilmember Carter then stated, in my judgment, in the past we have made numerous efforts at much greater expense
to help private enterprise in this community. I agree with Councilmember Gaines, we probably shouldn't give an edge to one
business over another. But, to me this is a small business which I think we ought to encourage. It is a business that has some
social benefit to it in terms of working people, especially working mothers. Beyond that, in terms of the liability insurance, it
seems to me that the contract that is written says that if the insurance lapses and doesn't meet the standards that are stated, then'
the contract is void and broken. We have no responsibility. So I think the contract covers that. Whether the insurance coverage
is a sufficient amount is another question. But I don't think the contract continues to make us liable if they let their insurance
lapse. If we don't vote to assist this company to do this business, then I am going to ask you a question the next time another
business comes in no matter how large or small it is that you want to give assistance to. So, I think we need to be consistent in
terms of economic development. If we want to help businesses, then help them. If we don't want to help businesses, then don't
Mayor Hodges stated, the difference is the requested help is on City property and I think that is the issue here. I think
everyone is for day care centers and all the good things they do in town. However, the things Councilmember Gaines pointed
out is this is a precedent that perhaps should be considered.
Mayor Hodges asked for a raise of hands in voting. Councilmember Cuter voted "for" and all other Councilmembers
voted "against" this request The motion was defeated 1 to 7. NOTE: Councilmember Robinson was absent.
CONSIDER A HANGAR &IIANGAR SITE AGREEMENT
This is a proposed agreement with Micro Engineering for a hangar and hangar site at the Huntsville Airport which we
have talked about in the past. City Manager Pipes stated that City Attorney Bounds, Dade Brown and others have worked very '
hard in getting this contract as one that is quite satisfactory to all concerned. Staff was careful to be as literal as we could possibly
be in the initial study a couple of weeks ago concerning the possibility of furnishing utilities and other considerations. Staff did'
that so the Council would not have any surprises at all in the terms of what costs may be involved. At the present time, as we
understand it, there is no need for sewer service at the site as this is strictly a garage. There are no repair facilities or employee
facilities or anything at this site. All repair work and anything else that needs to be done will be done at the garage at the other
I� CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9 1992 BOOK "R" 61
ehdwhere -There are rest room Tact - hikes. —Fire pro"tecBOn wt e a minim i cust and certainly we expec is o e an imna project
in what is hopefully a number of hangar type facilities in the foreseeable future. But with that, I would refer to City Attorney
Bounds with the specifics in the contract and let him address those things since he has been working more directly with that
n
Mayor Hodges asked if there were any questions. Councilmember Carter asked, is this donation or use of city property li
for private purposes like we voted against a moment ago? They will be providing a monthly rental to the City for the use of the
property. stated City Attorney Bounds. In addition, as previously discussed, the structure would become the city's property. t
Councilmember Carter then stated, I fail to see the huge distinction between what we have just done. Councilmember Knolls
then stated, well, this is a designated use for that property. Councilmember Green asked, why did we specify, in terms of the
construction, a dollar amount rather than a particular configuration or something to do with the building? We have said they have I!
to build the building that will cost $60,000. Why didn't we have some kind of specifications there rather than a dollar amount? 'J
City Attorney Bounds stated, we are still in the process of deciding what the ultimate design of the building will be and
that was our best estimate as to what the building would cost. Depending on the FFA regulations, how the roof is structured, j
as it might effect radio signals in the area, how the doors are structured, etc., is a matter to be decided. This is going to be a metal �I
building with large doors.
Councilmember Green asked, what is the word "unMicro Engineeringable "? City Attorney Bounds explained that was jl
a typo and should be "unattainable''. I would make one other comment. On page 30 of your agenda packet, there is a provision
for a payment bond. In lieu of the payment bond, the City may accept a cash escrow agreement and that is to be worked out
which should not change the conditions of the contract stated City Attorney Bounds. There is one 'blank" on page 32 of your
agenda packet which I guess would be 20% added City Attorney Bounds.
Councilmember Knolls stated, Scott, I didn't read the contract. What is the time limit on it. City Attorney Bounds
stated, it is a twenty year contract with a first right to renew its leasehold rights for five more years.
Councilmember Davis asked, who is Micro Engineering and is this a new business in town? Mayor Hodges responded,
no, they are located in Walker County and have been here for a number of years and they have some type of expertise in making '.
surgical instruments.
Councilmember Lange stated that he had spoken to a couple of pilots in town and the pilot community is very '.
enthusiastic about having a facility for an executive jet at our airport and hopefully will attract some more aircraft that is presently l�
housed in Conroe. They are excited about this possibility. j
Councilmember Gaines made a motion to approve this agreement with a second by Councilmember Knolls. At this
point, City Manager Pipes stated, I want to make sure the Council understands this site is limited to general aviation use not i!
instrument landing capability. The same exists on the opposite side of the airport with the truck stop. That new truck wash isI'.
in the same air zone regulation. It is necessary in the future to develop this site into a fully instrument capable airport. Certainly
the 'T' hangars that are there already stick way farther out towards the runway than this site does and Ijust wanted to make sure
the Council was aware that continued development of the airport along the access route of the runway restricts use to non '..'.
instrument approaches. Mayor Hodges stated, this means we won't get commercial air service in Huntsville. Councilmember
j
Knotts stated we don't have a long enough runway, do we? City Manager Pipes stated, we have some limitation on the runway,
but the instrumentation has as much to do with the lateral clear.
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Councilmember Carter then stated, I am at a loss at why we do this for these people and do the other thing for the Day
Care Center. I'd still like to ask a question, at least in my mind. It's a $46.00 a month lease for the hangar? City Attorney
Bounds stated, that is for the property, the hangar is ours. Councilmember Carter then added, if the Day Care Center agreed
to pay a rate of lease on that property that would be equivalent in terms of land space and so on, would you see a distinction
between the two deals? Councilmember Gaines stated, yes. Councilmember Carter then asked, why? Mayor IIodges stated, we
have already voted on that, Jim. Councilmember Carter then stated, but it matters. I don't understand how you can vote for one
and against the other. Mayor Hodges then stated, that is what we are here for, to vote our conscious. You are trying to wrap
both of them into two items at once. Councilmember Carter then stated, [ think we are taking inconsistent action.:
i
Councilmember Knolls stated, at the end of twenty years, this will be City property. Councilmember Carter then stated, so would F
the piece of property we already own and we would have the fence we are putting up. Councilmember Knolls stated, the structure
they are putting up would belong to the City. Councilmember Carter stated, I fail to see the distinction, so I guess I've made my f
comments and you all see something I don't.
At this point, Mayor Hodges asked, all in favor of the motion say aye, and opposed by like sign. Councilmember Carter
voted "against'. The motion passed 7 to 1. NOTE: Councilmember Robinson was absent.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK R" - 62
This project is for traffic light synchronization on Ilth Street. Mayor Hodges reminded Council that this had been
discussed previously and stated the particular bid is $32,08455. This is all State grant money. Councilmember Bell made a motion
to approve this bid with a second by Councilmember Lange. Councilmember Green pointed out one minor technical item - item
28 is on the bid twice and item 29 is left off - -not that it is of any great significance. City Manager Pipes stated, since it is in the
$4.60 item, I don't see a problem. Mayor Hodges then stated, we do have a motion and a second, all in favor say aye, opposed
by like sign. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER REORGANIZATION /STAFF REDUCTION IN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Mayor Hodges reminded Council that this was an item previously discussed and I, personally, asked City Manager Pipes;
to put this back on the agenda so we could re- discuss it tonight and consider it. The reason I did that was you will remember a�
work session we had about a month or six weeks ago and talked about a $400,000 shortfall in the general fund possibly for this
year. If you look at the savings that are available through this reorganization, I think it is something we ought to seriously do.
Councilmember Gaines made a motion to approve this proposal with a second by Councilmember Davis.
Councilmembers Knotts and Carter voted "against ". The motion passed 6 to 2. NOTE: Councilmember Robinson was absent...
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Pipes stated, we did have a plan for the Council meeting tonight to present to you representatives of the
firm SCS Engineers out of Kansas City. They had airplane difficulties in getting here and called and asked for a postponement.
We have been in the process for some months and I would like for Glenn Isbell to recap for the Council briefly and bring you
up -to -date on exactly how we got this plan and give you some background and then propose that this single item be put on the
agenda for next week's council meeting to discuss with the consulting engineers that are being considered for this project. It is
a considerable accomplishment to come to this point with the State of Texas and the Department of Criminal Justice Institutional
Division in funding the feasibility of the project, but we also obviously hope to move on from there to fruition. So I want to make
the Council fully informed as we progress. Glenn, if you will, step to the microphone and give Council a background and view
of the whole process so Council will know where we are next week when the engineers are here to discuss this particular item.
'
Glenn Isbell stated, we began the operations with contacts from the T.D.C.J. concerning a joint solution to solid waste
problems. Most of you are probably aware that Senate Bill 1340 has a goal of 40% recycling throughout the State. We began
around the first of March meeting with T.D.C.J. staff and have progressed to the point when we have met with Council on March
31st, and Council approved a $20,000 to $35,000 budget with 80% funded from the City and $20% funded from T.D.C.J. At that
particular time, we only had estimates of what the fees would be. With subsequent meetings with T.D.C.J. staff, we developed
a scope of services for request for proposals and sent those to ten engineering firms of which we had nine responses. T.D.C.J.
staff and the City of Huntsville staff had selected four of those nine for interviews. We interviewed those four on June 2nd and
3rd and it was a unanimous decision among both the T.D.C.J. staff and the City of Huntsville staff that SCS Engineers were the
consultants that we needed to begin contract negotiations with. We have been doing that for the past few days. City Manager
Pipes had mentioned that they had originally planned to be at this council meeting to answer any questions that you might have,
however, due to plane difficulties they had to postpone. Hopefully, we can schedule that on the 16th agenda. We have worked
out the contracts and scope of services and the fees and will present all of that to Council on the 16th. I think at each of your
places you have the scope of services as it has been refined through the process and this is the final scope of services.
Let me begin with just a brief overview. In 1985 and 1986, Council authorized Engineering Science an engineering firm
to do a solid waste study looking at all of the alternatives to solve disposal from incineration, with and without power generation,
to landfilling options, to compostin. and methane generation. At the conclusion of that study and the presentation, Mayor
Monday, at that time, formed a Solid Waste Committee comprised of the City and County Officials. We spent probably six months
to a year just in committee, and accomplishments of that committee was that it did capture the waste drain with Walker County.
The County did begin licensing haulers. Some forms of solid waste disposal facilities, the economics dictate their volumes -- the
more volume you have the more cost effective they are. Incineration with energy recovery would be one of those forms, so we
felt at that time we should include it in order to cover all the bases. If you will look at your scope of services, you will see that
in our staff meetings with T.D.C.J, they were interested in a material recovery facility which would help meet the mandated goals
'
of 40% recycling and a composting facility which they considered to be the most biological approach to the problem. I do want
to emphasize to Council that in all of the solid waste disposal techniques, there is no utopia. There is no clear cut magic answer
to make it go away and not be a problem. Essentially, when you go from landfilling to composting or incineration, with or without
energy generation, you are trading one set of problems for another set of problems. The questions are, are the problems
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9 1992 BOOK 'R" 63 —_—
the road. The feasibility study itself is designed to gather the facts of this operation for the Council to be able to make an
informed decision. If the report does come back that it is not feasible, then the consultants will state that. Likewise, if the report
comes back that it is feasible, it will state that. But, we have it segmented in such a way that phases of this thing may work or
whatever, but the information and facts will be there so Council can make judgments on the economics, operations and facilities.
Councilmember Knotts asked, how many sanitary sewer treatment plants do they have in our area now. Glenn Isbell
answered, they have one at each unit. So essentially, there are eight counting Eastlham, Ferguson, Ellis I and Ellis II. Within our
city limits there are two. The Walls, Diagnostic and Wynne share one. Goree has its own. Additionally, Goree operates on a
lagoon system, and they are operating under a permit to be able to land irrigate out of the lagoon, but the backup system that
they have is tied to ours. The application for that irrigation is controlled by the State. Also, during wet periods (winter months
when the ground is real wet), it doesn't do any good to spray out there. So, they have a standby system where they can bypass
and pump to our treatment facility.
Councilmember Carter stated, I don't see incineration as one of the alternatives. Glenn Isbell stated, incineration was
asked to be considered in the scope of the services. T.D.C.J. has existing incinerators on line and they were asked to look at those
facilities, their steam generation, and capabilities tied to their units now. One of the possibilities will be to make a refuse derived
fuel out of the compost or the end product which [hen could be burned in the incinerating unit. There are several types of that
which is what they call an "engineered refuse derived fuel" and a "non engineered refuse derived fuel ". Our instructions to the
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consultants and T.D.C.J. is in complete agreement that composting is not a real simple operation. A lot of environmental people
would oppose land application for composting in any form, but we wanted a clean compost. This means a lot of things that have
no market value will have to be removed up front and recycled. This causes some problems on the rigs. When you pull out such
things as paint cans, aerosols, em. and concentrate it, it becomes a hazardous waste. So, then you have another disposal problem
and they are asked to address that in the feasibility study.
City Manager Pipes also pointed out that compost seems to have evolved high on the chart in terms of environmental
sensitivity and appreciation. There are only eighteen compost facilities in place and operating in the United States. That's not
• real big number in terms of operational distinguished situations that you can evaluate because they are obviously hundreds maybe
• thousand times more landfills. There are at least a hundred times more incinerators, so composting becomes the least known
alternative that we have recognized in the past which is the current rage in terms of disposal. So we are very concerned about
the City- T.D.C.I. or any of us investing money in a process that seems to be the current enthusiastically supported system to find
i
out just a short while later that it is not all it is cracked up to be. We are also very concerned about Council also being aware
what is going on. Glenn Isbell added one comment. There are eighteen mixed solid waste composting facilities in the United
States. There are a lot of composting facilities who compost only single item products (yard waste), Mixed solid waste is another
ball game altogether. If you have a mixed medium such as yard waste, then you can predict the carbonaceous ratio with a lot of
things happening in the process. When you have a mixed solid waste which is comprised of food waste, high carbon content paper
and a lot of these things, and it comes in in waves, you may pick up no food today and all of it tomorrow, then you run into some
technical problems in providing the right environment for the composting operation to take place. These people are well versed
in that and they are perfectly capable of addressing those problems and we have asked them in the scope of services that they do
address these problems.
Councilmember Carter stated, there is another comment we have talked about, which is hazardous materials. Right now,
the City of Huntsville escapes the fact that we are still putting hazardous waste materials in the landfill, and as you noted, if we
had to pull those hazardous materials out and concentrate them in one spot, they would be classified as hazardous waste. They
still are going in the landfill whether they are concentrated or combined in there or not. Sooner or later, the City of Huntsville
is going to have to address that problem. And, I raised several years ago the issue that we might have a day or two per year within
which all the citizens of Huntsville collected all the hazardous materials that they have around their house (old paint cans, old
raid cans, other pesticides and fertilizer cans) and give them to us so they wouldn't go into the landfill. In other words, we are
escaping the technicalities of the law, but we are still putting hazardous waste, in my judgment, in the landfill at present. So, I !I
hope eventually we get around to discussing that and not just because of this study. And, finally, the environmental assessment
that will be done. If we go to any of these alternatives, will federal money be involved in this at all? Glenn Isbell answered, we -
have asked in the scope of services that they identify potential grant or funding sources to State and Federal levels. We do not
know whether any of that money is available at this time. These people helped EPA write the regulations on landfills so they are
very qualified and capable to do what needs to be done. Councilmember Carter added, if Federal money is involved there will
be a full environmental impact study in addition to this assessment.
Mayor Hodges stated, you have the report in front of you and we will schedule a council meeting for next week primarily
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK "R" 64
_. Yar -this ifetrc. Sher , wU
be here to answer all questions at that time. I will remind Council that this is a serviceable cost to the City. Our portion of this '
study will be about $28,000.
CONSIDER TOURNAMENT FEE PROPOSAL BY ILG.SA
Mayor Hodges stated this is a request from the Huntsville Girls Softball Association to allow them to have a tournament
and charge fees. This is something that has been approved in the past and I recommend we allow them to do it this year also.
Councilmember Green made a motion to approve this request with a second by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed
unanimously.
MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT
None.
CITY COUNCILMEMBER ACTION
Councilmember Bell stated that he had been contacted regarding concerns of dogs running loose and is asking that City
Council adopt an ordinance that requires all dogs be kept on a leash anywhere in the city. Comments were, we already have such
an ordinance. Councilmember Bell asked, if they are on their own property, do they have to be on a leash? City Attorney Bounds
stated, yes. Well, the question is, do we want that enforced vigorously, as apparently this man has a problem with dogs in his area
that are running free on other people's property. Obviously, we can run into some real problems. As City Manager Pipes has
pointed out to me, our animal patrol officer recognizes certain dogs, those that belong to a certain piece of property, and doesn't
pick them up and put them on a leash. Do we want a shift of emphasis in the City? City Attorney Bounds stated, we don't
necessarily impound the dog, one could take a picture of the dog on their property, and those could be processed through
municipal court.
Secondly, I have a request that a three way stop sign be installed on your corner, Councilmember Davis. I ask the staff
to do a feasibility study as to if it is desirable and if we should go in that direction. City Manager Pipes stated that staff has looked
at this in the past, but staff will look at it again.
Thirdly, I have been asked by Judge DeLong that I formally request he be put on the agenda next week for a
presentation to report on the state of the court. Mayor Hodges requested he be asked to present a brief report since the next
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meeting is a special called meeting.
Lastly, I want to address the specific agenda item. When I first came on City Council, one of the most memorable trips
we had was the crew taking a tour of the poor men of Huntsville in which we identified and pointed with pride to the fact that
the City had been rehabilitating homes under a federal grant. Those homes were presumably the homes with leaking roofs and
certainly those homes without indoor plumbing. The grant made it possible for us to rehabilitate those homes, and, I remember
the Mayor, the Council and the City Manager taking some pride in the fact that we had undertaken this rehabilitation of poor
structures. Federal money, of course, during the Reagan years, disappeared and at that point the program also disappeared. As
I have been thinking about it, I wonder if we should not take upon ourselves these responsibilities. Former President Reagan
stopped these grants stating he felt these were local responsibilities. I believe we do, as a local community, need to pay some
attention to helping the poor citizens of our community. We do have a very substantial poor population. In researching the
question, "how many poor people are there in Walker County? ", the Texas Department of Human Resources states, we have no
less than 23% and maybe as many as 27% of our total population fall under the federal poverty guidelines. That is a very, very
large population. In fact, if you look at it, it is almost a third of our population living in poverty circumstances. Now, those are
guidelines that may be interpreted in different ways. But if you are in any doubt about the conditions that some of our citizens
live, all you need to do is drive up to tine Northeast part of town and go through some of those areas where housing is distinctly
substandard and where there are quality of life problems in terms of the types of homes in which these people live. So, what I
did was sat down and analyzed some of the premises off which I was working (I provided for you at your place) and I would in
a very strong, forceful way make the point that perhaps the time has come for the City of Huntsville to start, first of all,
recognizing and secondly, dealing with problems of serious poverty in our community. Now, we do have a program that is federally
administered to make sure people don't starve in Huntsville, Texas, for which I am eternally grateful - the Food Stamp Program.
It is nice to know that for the first time in our nation's history we don't have a serious starvation problem. There are other federal
assistance programs, Aid to Families With Dependent Children, which is one of the most obvious, and others. But the question
of decent housing and the fundamental right of human beings to be out of the rain on a bad day hasn't been addressed. We do
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> have some serious housing shortages and serious housing lacks in this City. I would encourage the Council to give some serious
thought to revising/reprising this old program that we carried out with so much pride six years ago, only this lime, let's do it with
our own dollars. Let's not wait for the federal dollars to make us do what we really should be doing for ourselves. Now, it is not
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 9, 1992 BOOK "R" 65
_ - my infenlfion" io astr yo�te on this particular tss mgt , a oug t is n n um vole. on t —
like to see things appear and ask for an immediate vote. I'd like you to think about this and I ask City Manager Pipes to bring
it back to Council in about three week and maybe we could vote on it. There are two aspects to this particular program that I
think we should seriously consider. It was suggested to me by a citizen that we use the City as a central clearing house for some �I
of the volunteer efforts that are available. For instance, Habitat for Humanity, the Kawanis Club, the Rotary Club, and the
Knights of Columbus. Periodically, I understand, the Knights of Columbus have offered their services to prop up porches, put.
roofs on houses, maybe redo some of the plumbing. But, there is a serious lack in this City in any central agency who can priortize
the needs and direct volunteer groups in the directions in which they should be concerned. So, I'd like the City, number one,
consider taking upon itself the role of a clearing house and volunteer effort director. This perhaps would involve J. D. Schindler's
office in establishing priorities and making a census/inventory of what housing needs and housing lacks are in the City and then
having that prioritized list for the purposes of assisting requests for information from volunteer groups. Secondly, we do pretty
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good when it comes to putting money into tangible assets. We do a little less well when it comes to dealing with our people. But j!
our people are our most important resource and we need to consider them. So, I would ask the small, amount maybe no more ii
than $10,000, be directed to be used for the worst housing problems and continue it just like a federal program, and in the process, it
we will be doing ourselves a benefit because I firmly believe that we are no better as a City than our poorest or poverty stricken
citizens are themselves. We help ourselves when we help the less fortunate.
Councilmember Knotts stated he thought all his ideas were good, but was concerned about funding.
Councilmember Lange agreed that this needs to be looked at in great detail, including research and control.
Councilmember Gaines stated she agreed with Councilmember Iange's ideas.
Councilmember Carter stated, I hope we won't be George Bush and study everything for the next ten years before we!�
take action on it. We just passed a telephone tax which is going to give us some more money in the next year or two so I don't
know why we can't take some of that money to do what Councilmember Bell is talking about, since that is somewhat additional
to what we already have and certainly we can probably earmark that money for this program. I commend you for what you just
said. I think that you absolutely put your finger on something that the city government needs to be doing and there are other
programs of that sort that we should be addressing as well. Also, since someone raised the "stop sign issue ", I've asked for several
years for a four way stop at 18th Street and Avenue R. So, if you're going to do a study whether a three way stop sign is needed '..
i
in Spring Lake, we have a school, a church, numerous children and extremely heavy traffic with great speeds at 18th Street and
it
Avenue R, as this is the only clear shot from Avenue O down the other street. People choose that way so they can avoid the four ;i
way stop on the other street. I will remind you, once again, Councilmember Lange, se -venal years ago, came to City Election !i
Forums arguing for the same thing on Normal Park to stop the fast traffic. So, now it is about six years and I assume maybe when
I retire from Council, which depends on lots of things, maybe that will be my gift.
Councilmember Davis stated he is very sympathetic to Councilmember Bell's remarks and felt Council did need to pay
attention to that type of thing, but as has been mentioned, we are talking about and this is a budget consideration which I think
we need to very carefully look at, and see what the impact will be on the budget and then see what we can do. I am certainly
happy to be a part of the process of looking into the problems. Also, I am one of the City representatives to the Huntsville
Walker -County Emergency Medical Service. We had one of our periodic board meetings a couple of weeks ago and I might report ICI!
that the E.M.S. continues to be in good shape financially. The principal item of business considered at the last meeting was the
renewal of the vehicle liability and physical damage insurance policy, which has been done with the carrier who has provided that
coverage in the past.
Councilmember Green stated he was glad that Councilmember Bell indicated that it was the responsibility of christiam
and churches to take on these responsibilities, but I don't believe he mentioned government in any of this. But, other than that,
I think it is pretty good.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
ADJOURNMENT
' Melba ?Byers
City cretwy �,