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MIN CC 06/27/1995OF JUNE 27. 1995 BOOK "R" 378 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 27TH DAY OF JUNE, 1995, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M. The Council met in regular session with the following members present: COUNCILMEMBERS: William B. Green, Mayor Dave Luning Officers: Dan S. Davis JoAnn Matthews Gene Pipes, City Manager Ronald L. Lange David Martinez Danna Welter, City Secretary Marjorie Rex Scott Bounds, City Attorney ABSENT: Jim Carter, Ann James CITIZEN INPUT/INQUIRY Patrick Antwi stated that this is the 26th year of 14EAP and introduced members of the staff. Several groups of children sang and danced. Perry Little stated that he taught poultry and animal nutrition at SHSU from 1962 until he retired recently. He is currently studying emus. He has obtained a small grant to help with this project. Members of the Huntsville Emu Association have offered the use of their birds, but Sam Houston Agricultural Center was unable to provide any fenced area secure enough for such valuable birds. Due to the close supervision necessary for the research and high theft risk, he has fenced his back yard for the emus. He has been contacted by the Inspection Department that the keeping of emus (classified as exotic animals) in the City limits are against City ordinances. Mr. Little feels that emus should be considered livestock and not as exotics. He requests that Council allow this project to continue and wine themselves and see the site and the emus. Mr. Pipes stated that the Inspection Department inspects areas on a complaint basis and evidently there have been some complaints regarding the emus. As far as the distinction between livestock and exotics, livestock can only be kept in the City limits 125 feet from another private residence whereas exotics are not allowed. Mayor Green asked staff to study the issue and come back to Council with a recommendation. i Charles Smithey Jr. stated that he had two items to bring to Council's attention, 1) financial information on gift shop looks like there is a considerable loss in operation, and 2) the sign at Emancipation Park deteriorated and was not repaired before the Juneteenth activities. INVOCATION Invocation by Gene Pipes, City Manager. CONSIDER MINUTES OF MAY 9, JUNE 9 AND JUNE 20, 1995 i1 Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve the minutes of May 9, June 9 and June 20 1995. and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion Passed unanimously NOTE- Councilmembers Carter and James absent ATTENDING CITIZENS 1. Paul Alexander presented American Heart Association awards to: • Jane Pickett for 10 years of AHA Meritorious Service to Walker County, and • Wayne Sorge for a 1995 AHA Public Service media award and the 1995 State level Paul R. Ellis media award for small market radio. 2. Ron E. Bruno, Executive Director of Parker County Youth Emergency Shelter, Inc., to discuss securing a youth emergency shelter in Huntsville. Mr. Bruno thanked Council for the opportunity to visit with them and also Mr. Schindler and Chief Eckhardt for spending some time with him discussing an emergency shelter for youth. Currently Parker County Youth Emergency Shelter is the only one of its kind in Texas. Mr. Bruno stated that he is here to develop community support for a 25 bed secured youth emergency shelter in Huntsvillle for rehabilitating youth. The shelter will develop!' 15 -20 new jobs and bring additional dollars to the local merchants. The employees of the shelter will work with the juvenile probation, department and the local police in the housing of juveniles. He is requesting that City Council pass a resolution is support of a Youth Emergency Shelter in the Huntsville area. Mayor Green stated that before a resolution is passed by City Council, additional research on the program will be needed and it thanked Mr. Bruno for considering Huntsville and for his presentation to Council. n _CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 27, 1995 BOOK "R" CONSIDER THE TAX COLLECTION REPORT FOR MAY WITH ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEVY 379 AS RECOMMENDED BY GROVER COOK, CHIEF APPRAISER Councilmember Davis made a motion to approve the tax collection report for May with adiustments to the levv of $460.47 as recommended by Grover Cook, Chief Anmaiser. and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO RE -BH) ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR CHLORINE AND SULFUR DIOXIDE Mr. Schindler stated that Council approved the annual contract for chlorine and sulfur dioxide to Jones Chemical on May 9, 1995. Jones Chemical's bid did not meet the truck size specification, but was awarded the bid since the savings was substantial. The two other vendors have called complaining that they were not able to bid on the larger truck size. To make the playing field fair, Staff is recommending re- bidding the annual contract for chlorine and sulfur dioxide. Councilmember Luring made a motion to rescind the bid accented by Jones Chemical for chlorine and sulfur dioxide and re -bid the annual contract. and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER BIDS ON ONE NEW AND UNUSED MOTOR GRADER FOR THE STREET DIVISION Mr. Wilder stated that Staff received only one bid meeting specifications while three bids meeting specifications for this motor grader were expected. Due to a clerical error in addressing the bid packets, one company that has two of the three graders did not receive their packet. Staff does not feel comfortable in making a recommendation without comparing the prices of others meeting specifications and requests that Council reject the bids and authorize Staff to re -bid the motor grader. Councilmember Rex made the motion to reject the bids on the motor grader for the street division and re -bid. and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER SALARY INCREASE FROM 54.50 PER HOUR TO $6.50 PER HOUR FOR LIFEGUARDS Mr. Wilder stated that Staff is experiencing difficulty in hiring lifeguards this summer for the City pool, due to the fact that qualified applications can go to Conroe or Houston and make more money. Staff is recommending increasing the lifeguard's pay from $4.50 per hour to $6.50 to be paid from available funds (approximately $2,500). Councilmember Lange made the motion to increase the lifeguard pav from $4.50 per hour to $6.50 per hour. and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER PURCHASE OF SECOND PHASE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION COMPUTER SYSTEM FROM BUDGETED FUNDS Mr. Wilder stated that Phase I of the Community Development computer system was installed this year and has progressed at a faster pace than anticipated. Staff is recommending Phase II (three work stations, a printer and software) be implemented with funds currently remaining available from the purchase of 1995 equipment with the "anticipation note ". The estimated cost of Phase II is $45,000. Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the purchase of second phase of the computer system for the Community Development Division and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER AGREEMENT WITH TOM CURTIS, CURTIS DEVELOPMENT, AND ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS TO IMPROVE PARKWOOD DRIVE Mr. Wilder stated that at the last meeting the consensus of Council was to participate in an agreement to improve Parkwood Drive .The agreement requires Curtis Development 1) furnish the City with a 60 foot wide utility easement, approximately 75 feet long, and 2) provide an escrow check of $55,813 for materials. These condition must be met before any engineering design begins. The City will furnish the design, construction and supervision. The agreement states that the street will be completed by September 30, 1996, although Curtis Development would like a May 1996 completion date. Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve an agreement with Tom Curtis, Curtis Development and adjacent uronertv owners to im rove Parkes od Drive and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON FIRE MUSEUM FOR DISPLAY OF 1952 AMERICAN LAFRANCE LADDER TRUCK Chief Eckhardt stated that a number of years ago the City of Huntsville purchased a 1952 ladder track from the City of Houston. In the last few years it has not been a safe piece of equipment to use for fire fighting, and has been replaced by a unit from TDCJ. The Houston Fire Museum has contacted staff and requested permission for this ladder truck to be on display in their museum. Staff is requesting approval of an agreement for display of the ladder truck at the Houston Fire Museum for a period of ten years, with the CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 27, 1995 BOOK "R" _ 380_ museum maintaining and providing liability on it during these ten years. Councilmember Lange asked if the City of Huntsville's name will remain on the truck, or credit given to the City of Huntsville. Mr. Bounds stated that Council could make this condition could be specified in the agreement as ownership will remain with the City of Huntsville. i Councilmember Lange made a motion to aporove an agreement with the Houston Fire Museum for disulav of the Cit 's 1952 American LaFrance ladder truck and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimousl MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT 1. Consider authorizing staff to bid the lease of the City property at north approach to the Huntsville Municipal Airport. Councilmember Matthews made the motion to authorize staff to bid the lease of Citv property at the north approach of the Huntsville Municipal Aimort. and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Consider appointments to the Huntsville Housing Authority Board and the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Mayor Green stated that he was appointing Ron Howell and Jerry Moorer to replace Allen Pritchard and Joseph Rowe on the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the appointments of Ron Howell and Jerry Moorer to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mayor Green stated that he was reappointing lames Barrum to the Huntsville Housing Authority Board, and appointing Harold'. Norton to replace John Holcombe on the Huntsville Housing Authority Board. Councilmember Davis made a motion to approve the reappointment of James Barrum and the appointment of Harold Norton to the Huntsville Housing Authority Board. and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCILMEMRER ACTION ' 1. Notice of change of signature cards for Nations Bank. Councilmember Davis made a motion m approve new signature cards for all bank accounts and that the name of the current Mavor City Manager, Director of Finance and Chief Accountant he listed. and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. MEDIA INQUIRIES None. ADJOURNMENT Recess into a WORK SESSION to present the final draft revision to the Development Code and a pre- budget discussion - Huntsville Plan. Recess into a EXECUTIVE SESSION to discuss: • Real estate acquisition of: *property on 10th Street; *property on 7th Street; and *property on 16th Street; Pending litigation: *Burke v. City; *Townsend v. State Farm Insurance I "Sam Houston Inn. "Dana Welter, City Secretary '