MIN CC 10/19/1993CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 1993 BOOK "R" 245
'i MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCILMEETING HELD ON THE 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1993, IN THE CITY j
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCH.MEMBERS:
W. H. Hodges, Mayor Officers:
Dan S. Davis Harold L. Norton Gene Pipes, City Manager
William B, Green JoAnn Matthews Danna Welter, City Secretary
Ronald L. Lange Ila G. Gaines Scott Bounds, City Attorney
Jim Carter Dave Luring
CITIZEN INPUTANQUIRY
j
None.
REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hodges called the meeting to order,
INVOCATION
Invocation by Father Bob Estrus, St. Thomas Catholic Church.
CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 5 AND 12, 1993
Councilmember Gaines made the motion to approve the minutes of October 5 and 12, 1993, and Councilmember Luning
seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
RECEIVE PETITIONS REQUESTING CHANGE IN ELECTION DATE
Ms. Carol Wilk presented City Council with petitions containing 201 signatures to change the uniform election date for
City elections from the January date to the May date in the form of a Charter Amendment to be voted on at the January 15, 1991-
election.
Mayor Hodges stated that this item would be addressed at the November 2nd Council meeting.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE 93 -10 -19.1 CALLING A CITY OFFICER'S ELECTION
FOR AT -LARGE POSITIONS ON JANUARY 15, 1990,
Councilmember Luning made the motion to approve Ordinance 93 -10 -19.1 calling a City Officer's Election for At -Large
positions on January 15, 199JL and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed
unanimously.
CONSIDER RESOLUTION 93 -10 -19.1 NOMINATING CANDIDATES TO THE
WALKER COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD
Councilmember Dan Davis stated that the City of Huntsville, a taxing unit, nominates the following for positions on the
board of directors of the Appraisal District: Fred Cherry, Jerry Larrison, Ralph Lawson, Sue Martin, J. S. Robinson, Joyce Robinson,
and Willie Williams. Mayor Hodges stated that Sue Martin will be the City's nominee to the board and these nominees we parallel
to the candidates nominated by Walker County.
Councilmember Davis made the motion to approve Resolution 93 -10 -19.1 nominating candidates to the Walker County
Appraisal District Board, and Councilmember Green seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE 93 -10 -19.2 ESTABLISHING SUSPENSION AND OTHER
PROVISIONS FOR ROTATION WRECKER SERVICES AS A RESULT OF APPEAL HEARING
Scott Bounds presented Council an errata sheet with several amendments to the ordinance: 1) Pete Johnson towing and
storage facility would be suspended for two months instead of six months to be consistent; and 2) if the owner of a vehicle involved
in a collision designates as the tow truck service that the owner desires to move the vehicle a service that has been suspended from
the tow list, then the designated tow truck service shall be permitted to tow the vehicle.
Councilmember Carter made the motion to approve Ordinance 93 -10 -19.2 establishing suspension and other provisions
CITY COUNCIL. MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 1993 BOOK "R"
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for rotation wrecker services as a result of appeal hearing, with the two amendments listed on the errata sheet, and Councilmember'
Green seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER POLICIES FOR THE RENTAL/USE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING
CENTER IN EMANCIPATION PARK
Scott Bounds stated that a set of policies have been developed for the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Center. An
errata sheet with several changes to the policy include: 1) under form of payment, only cash or money order will be accepted, no
personal checks; 2) clarification that they keys must be picked up by 4:00 p.m. on the business day before the building is used; 3).
clarification that failure to notify the Police Department dispatcher within thirty minutes of vacating the building that the building'
has been vacated and that the alarm can be activated may result in forfeiture of the deposit; and 4) change "non -profit govennnental'.
organization" to "tax-exempt nonprofit organization" relating to waiving of the permit fee. _
the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ABANDONMENT OF WATER WELL SITE
Councilmember Luning made the motion to approve the abandonment of water well site, and Councilmember Gaines
seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE 93 -10 -19.3 AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION AND NOTICE
OF INTENT TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION - 1/2 TON FULL SIZE PICKUP
Councilmember Carter made the motion to approve Ordinance 93 -10 -19.3 authorizing publication and notice of intent to
issue certificate of obligation on a new and unused 1/2 ton full size pickup, and Councilmember Green seconded the motion. All
were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. '
CONSIDER ORDINANCE 93 -10 -19.4 AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION AND NOTICE
OF INTENT TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION - SELF PROPELLED STREET SWEEPER
Councilmember Green made the motion to approve Ordinance 93 -10 -19.4 authorizing publication and notice of intent to
issue certificate of obligation on a self propelled street sweeper, and Councilmember Luning seconded the motion. All were in favod'
and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION UPDATE/RECOMMENDATION
Boyd Wilder stated that there are three options to consider in proceeding with the solid waste transfer station.
• Option I is to take advantage of the SCS offer and allow them to attempt to obtain an acceptable bid at no additional cost to the
City. With this option, the City is out no additional cost, but is taking the chance of not receiving bids again. If this occurs again;
we would have lost approximately two months of precious time, but would not have spent additional funds.
• Option 2 is to hire the firm of Goodwin- Lasiter, Inc. to review /redesign the project at an estimated cost of $38,000. This estimate
includes the required geotechnical investigation. This option would allow a third party look at what we have done to date, and
possibly offer changes that could assist us in obtaining a good bid. The drawback on this option is that we would essentially be
throwing away what we have done to date in reference to engineering design. Given our record on what these plans have produced,
1 am not sure that would be all bad. This option would probably put us on a construction schedule of late January, with completion
in May or June.
Option 3 is for the City Public Works Department to assume the role of general contractor and construct the project with a
combination of City forces and subcontractors. There would still be a need for a structural engineer to review submittals related to '
the structural design. In my opinion, option #3 would take more time than the other two options to organize the construction process.
The most important part of this option is the drastic effect it would have on all current projects. Those projects would essentially .
go on hold until the transfer station is completed.
Staff is recommending Option 2.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 1993 BOOK "R" 247
Councilmember Luring made the motion to accept Option 2 and enter into an a¢reement with Goodwin- Lasiter. Inc. for
services not to exceed $38,000, and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed
`- unanimously.
UPDATE ON THE LANDFILL CLOSURE PROJECT
Mr. Wilder stated that Waste Managementhas sent the City a letter stating that Security Landfill will be closing on January
1, 1994. This will leave the City hauling to the secondary site - Atascocita Landfill, which is forty miles further from the original
site. Waste Management representatives stated that they do not intend to walk away and realize that they have a contractual
obligation with the City. They have requested that the City give them two weeks to come back with possible alternatives to the
problem. If these negotiations do not work out, there are several other landfills within closer proximity.
Councilmember Carter stated that the City should take some steps to reduce the waste stream including, but not limited
to, recycling. He suggested that the City charge by the amount of garbage collected. Mayor Hodges stated that an immediate relief
might he to separate the newspaper at the collection site and have it picked up on a designated day.
Mr. Wilder stated that due to the rain and adjustments to the landfill closure plans, work will begin soon.
CONSIDER SEWER EXTENSION REQUESTS
Mr. Wilder stated that he had received two requests from citizens for sewer extensions - Rozelle, Spring Lake, and Garcia,
Highway 75 South. After discussion, Mayor Hodges recommended that the residents be offered the City's water and sewer extension
policy.
Councilmember Carter made the motion to offer Mr. Rozelle and Mr. Garcia the City's water and sewer extension policy,
and Councilmember Norton seconded the motion, All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER UPDATED PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING ESTIMATES
FOR THE FISH HATCHERY SEWER PROJECT
Mayor Hodges asked Patricia Allen to project the amount of revenues to be received from the number of customers that
would be added with the Fish Hatcher Sewer project and the rate increase that would be needed to finance the project.
CONSIDER BIDS
1. 493 -44, annual contract for hydrofluosilicic acid to Hamross Chemical in the amount of $.1750 per pound.
2. #93 -45, annual contract for concrete sand to D. Rice Materials in the amount of $11.99 /cy and annual contract for concrete
to LaFarge Concrete in the amount of $47.00 /cy.
Councilmember Gaines made the motion to accept Bid #93 -44 and #93 -45 as listed above, and Councilmember Norton
seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER POLICE HIRING SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM
Chief Eckhardt stated that recently the City received a grant application kit for President Clinton's Police Hiring
Supplement Program. This program is designed to put more police officers on the street. If the City applies for the grant, Council
should be aware that: 1) the City would have to match from 25% to a possible high of 50% of the grant money; 2) this grant money
would only be awarded for officer positions which increase community policing activities (foot, horseback, bicycle patrol in high
crime areas); 3) the grant will only last for three years and the City would have to commit to continuing the positions at the
conclusion of the grant period; and 4) this is a very detailed time consuming grant application with competition for the money from
across the U.S. and applying dates are October 14, 1993, November 1, 1993, and December 1, 1993.
The cost of the program to the City would be $15,000 to $35,000 per year during the grant period and a commitment to
continue the program at 100% at the conclusion of the grant.
Mayor Hodges stated that if additional staff was needed at the Police Department the grant would be a good option, but
if additional staff is not required it would not be a good option.
Councilmember Carter stated that if at the end of the grant period, if the results of the project were not a success, he did
not feel the City would be required to continue the program.
Councilmember Matthews made the motion to approve the grant application for the President's Police Hiring Supplement
Program, and Councilmember Carter seconded the motion. Councilmembers Matthews, Carter, Luning and Lange voted for, and
Councilmembers Norton, Gaines, Green, Davis and Mayor Hodges voted against. The motion failed 5 -4
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 1993
BOOK 'R" 248
UPDATE ON PURCHASE OF K -9
Mr. Pipes stated that the City has sent the deposit to purchase the K -9 for the Police Department.
MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT
Mayor Hodges stated that the Boards and Commissions Reception would be held on October 26, 1993, from 5:30 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The United Way Telethon will be held on that evening from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
CITY COUNCILMEMBER ACTION
Wiesner Trees. Councilmember Carter requested a copy of the minutes of the meetings dealing with the Wiesner dealership in
regards to trees in the easements.
Fiscal Notes Brochure. Councilmember Carter asked if all Councilmembers could begin receiving this publication. He stated'
that there is a very good article relating to storm water.
Buffer Zones. Councilmember Luning asked that staff request a copy of the buffer zone ordinance from College Station,
Conroe, Brenham, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, LaGrange and Ozona.
Permit Policy. Councilmember Green stated that the policy for payment of building permits may need to be reviewed to perhaps
exclude groups or organizations donating time for community projects.
Book Signing. Mayor Hodges stated that Jane Monday and Patricia Prather would be at the Huntsville Public Library on
Thursday for a reception and book signing in honor of their book "From Slave to Statesman".
None.
MEDIA
ADJOURNMENT
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Danna Welter, City Secretary