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MIN CC 10/15/1991CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 15. 1991 BOOK "0" 512 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 157H DAY OF OCTOBER, 1991 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 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: Consider Resolution No. 91 -11 authorizing W. H. Hodges, Mayor William B. Green City officers present: 0. Eugene Barrett William H. Knotts, Jr. Gene Pipes, City Manager Ila G. Gaines Ronald L. Lange Scott Bounds, City Attorney James L. Carter Charles Robinson Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary Member Absent: Councilmember Gary Bell FORMAL MEETING CONVENED Mayor Hodges called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M. CITIZEN INPUT /INQUIRY SESSION I' Mr. James Baine -- Taxicab Ordinance Mr. gains commented that he attended the meeting to listen to the discussion regarding the taxicab ! ordinance and be given the opportunity to speak following the discussion. Mayor Hodges informed Mr. gains that Council would be going over the ordinance in the worksession following the meeting. Dr. Barrett asked if Mr. Baine would like to go ahead and state his position. Mr. gains responded that there were two issues in the ordinance that he had problems with, 1) location of vehicles, and 2) requiring that the drivers stay inside the taxicabs on a first come, first serve basis. Mayor Hodges requested that Mr. gains remain for the worksession to be held in the conference room following the meeting. Mr. Jerry Robinson -- Taxicab Ordinance Mr. Robinson stated that he wanted to wait until the worksession for discussion regarding the taxicab !; ordinance. Ms. Margie Allen -- Taxicab Ordinance Ms. Allen requested to be present at the worksession for comment. Mr. Don Kraemer -- Taxicab Ordinance Mr. Kraemer requested to be present at the worksession for comment. Mr. Jerry Anglin -- Taxicab Ordinance Mr. Anglin stated that he was interested in the same matter. CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve the minutes of October 1. 1991. and Councilmember Gaines' seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. NOTE: Counci lmember Bell is absent. motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimousl CONSIDER RESOLUTION Consider Resolution No. 91 -11 authorizing application to the Texas Forest Service -- America the Beautiful- - Challenge Grant Program in the amount of $5.958. Mr. Pipes: The grant project totals $13,240, and the funds are to plant trees and vegetation at the founders spring park when the County is finished with the basic preparation work. The Staff expects the grant to be funded by the Texas Forest Service. Councilmember Carter made the motion to approve Resolution No. 91 -11. and Councilmember Lange seconded the v. motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimousl CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 1991 BOOK "g" 513 CONSIDER BID NO. 92 -4 Consider bid on 5 sack concrete to Bernath Concrete at 846.50 per cubic yard: and consider bid on sand to D. Rice Materials at 511.99 per yard. Councilmember Gaines made the motion to approve Bid No. 92 -4, and Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. - Councilmenber Knotts requested the quantity of sand that was bid. J. D. Schindler will respond to this request. ALL were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER COSTS RELATING TO BOETTCHER'S MILL STORE Consider residual costs for tank removal and expected costs for contaminated soil removal at the Boettcher's Mill Store Project site. Mr. Pipes: At the beginning of the project the City was aware of two tanks; a third tank's neck had broken off below ground Level and the tank was not found until excavation of the other two tanks. It was removed at the same time, but the work exceeded the 85,000 authorized by 8980. Also, authorization is requested to excavate the contaminated soil for between 84,000 and 85,000 as an estimated cost. The cost of the tank removal (less 81,000) may be reimbursed by the Texas Water Commission through a grant. The Staff will apply for this grant, but it could take as Long as six months for funding. Councilmember Robinson made the motion to approve the 8980 for tank removal, and approve removal of contaminated soil at an estimated cost of 84.000 to 85,000. Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the nation passed unanimously. CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 91-27 Consider Ordinance No. 91 -27. amending Chapter 17, Water and Sewer, to permit additional security for utility biLLs. Mr. Pipes: This ordinance would provide that: "Security for payment of utility service charges may be made by cash deposit with the City, or by an approved certificate of deposit in the new of the City of Huntsville at a Walker County financial institution, or by an approved letter of credit at a Walker County financial institution." Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approved Ordinance No. 91 -27, and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER ORDINANCE 91 -26 Consider Ordinance No. 91 -26, amending Chapter 2, Administration, to permit the City Manager to approve certain contracts up to 82,000 as discussed in budget sessions. CounciLmember Barrett made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 91 -26, and CounciLmenber Gaines seconded the motion. Councilmember Knotts indicated that he had a problem with the Ordinance unless the bids were in writing, he did rat want to permit bids up to 82,000 over the telephone. Mr. Schindler indicated that changes were being made to the Purchasing Manual and that written bids were required on any amount of $500. Upon vote of the motion. Councilmembers Carter, Lange, Barrett, Gaines, Robinson. Green and Mayor Hodges voted for the motion and Councilmember Knotts voted against the motion; therefore, the motion passed. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 1991 BOOK "Q" 514 CONSIDER RECONTRACT WITH AMERICAN ILLUSION Consider a proposal to recontract with American Illusion to pain the facade on the Zinn Building (north side of the square -- King's Candies) in the amount of $1.200 to be paid from Meadows Grant funds. Mr. Pipes: The City has an architectural easement from Mrs. Zinn to paint the facade of the King's Candies building. This was the only hold out on the north side of the square. This will not be illusionary art, but a flat paint compatible with the general work on the north side of the square. The color selection will be supervised by Richard Haas and be applied in acrylic instead of the time paint. It is not as permanent of a situation, but provides an opportunity to get the building looking like the overall project on the north side. The cost of the project will be $1,200 and the source of funds will be the interest accrued on the Meadows fund money. CounciLmember Green made the motion to approve the recontract with American Illusion for $1.200. and CounciLmember Carter seconded the motion. ALL were in favor and the motion was unanimously passed. CONSIDER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SURVEY Of HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND SITES Consider a request to take proposals for a survey of historical buildings and sites in the amount of $6,000 as II part of the Meadows grant local match. Mr. Pipes: Last winter the Council considered a joint project with Walker County matched by Texas Historical grant funds to do a survey of Walker County. The grant was not forthcoming from the Texas Historical Commission and therefore the project was postponed. Walker County's original match had been contingent on grant approval. There is no grant available, and is not likely to be available. The original $6,000 from the City would do only the work within the corporate limits, and only on a limited scale. Walker County has indicated that their money was contingent on the grant, that with no grant available, they would be out of consideration at this time. The $6,000 would only be one third of the original proposal, but would go a long way and certainly would be something that with working with the County Historical Commission may in fact inspire the County to come along Later and subsequent years. This only approves the request to take new proposals for the work. Bids would be requested from an approved List by the Historical Commission. To Mr. Pipes' knowledge, no one locally has received or attempted to receive the certification that was previously discussed. Councilmember Lange made the motion to approve the request to take proposals for a survey of historic buildings and sites, and CounciLmember Carter seconded the motion. ALL were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. City Manager's Report - -Gene Pipes Consider request from Theta Chi Fraternity to borrow bleacher from Kate Barr Ross Park to accommodate spectators at a benefit roller hockey tournament at Silver Wings Ballroom on November 19. Mr. Pipes: We have had had a number of these requests. We are presently meeting the needs of the Soccer Program, etc., and we have the extra units. There is some wear and tear to these bleachers by transportation. To date, the City has not charged for any usage the bleacher, but they are a fixed asset of the City and Council could choose to require deposit and some sort of nominal fee for usage. Utilization of the bleachers is not a problem as far as the City Staff is concerned, but Staff requests review since this was a fund raising effort for the American Heart Association Councilmember Carter suggested that a policy may be developed in the future. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve the request from Theta Chi Fraternity to borrow bleachers from Kate Barr Ross Park. Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. Councilmembers Carter. Lange, Barrett, Gaines. Robinson. Green and Mayor Hodges voted for the motion and Councilmember Knotts voted against the motion: therefore, the motion passed by a vote of seven to one. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 1991 BOOK "0" 515 Mr. Pipes: The City has three trustees appointed by ordinance on the board; Jane Monday (individual), Patricia Allen and himself. The resignation requires an audit of the fund at the time. Patricia has timed her resignation to coincide with the audit, so both Jane Monday and Patricia Allen's tenure will end coincidently with the completion of the audit. The two vacant positions will need to be appointed by Council. Mayor Hodges noted that the Finance Committee would meet to discuss the appointment of the two vacant positions. Councilmember Knotts made the nation to accept the resignation of Patricia Allen from the Employee Health Insurance Trustee Board, Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Consider action on the right -of -way discussed in executive session. No action on right -of -way discussion. Inform Council of a Letter from Dale Dixon requesting a grader - maintainer to grade the driveway between field house of High School and Bus Barn Transportation Center. This will be so the buses can go back and forth through this drive to avoid adding to the traffic on FM 2821. Mr. Pipes recommended this consideration. Council had no objections. A request from the County Judge for authorization for the City Manager to write a letter encouraging the Director Engineer of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation to maintain the Bryan District Office in the realignment of the Texas Highway Department rather than put the City of Huntsville perhaps with Harris County. We are very concerned that we would end up low on the totem pole as far as highway dollars if ' this should occur. Also, to maintain Walker County and Huntsville in the Bryan district and encourage the designation of Dalton Cantrell as the District Engineer in the Bryan office. All three of these items are of great long term interest to this community and he would write this Letter with Council approval. Council had no objections. Mayor's Activity Reoort- -Bill Hodges Consider appointments Arts Commission Appointment. Mayor Hodges then presented the names of Darryl Patrick and Stanford Douglas as new Advisory members; reappointment of Maria Jimenez and Dorothy Cole as Advisory members; and Herb Muecke as Commissioner. Outgoing board members are Pam Anisman (1989 -1991) and Frankie Grover (1987- 1991). Resignation of Ruth DeShaw. City Secretary Mayor Hodges stated that Ruth had resigned her position with City of Huntsville and will be taking a position in the Dallas area. Ruth has been a Loyal and valuable employee for the City for eighteen years. Mayor Hodges also requested that Council arrange their schedules to be at the Boards and Commissions reception to be held the following Tuesday, and Ruth would be honored at that time. COUNCILMEMBER ACTION 18th Street and Avenue 0 - Parking at Intersection Councilmember Carter advised that it is hard to turn the corner from Avenue 0 onto 18th Street due to the cars parked on the side of the road. Chief Eckhardt noted the problem. Burglaries at the Corner of 10th Street and Avenue F Councilmember Robinson stated he had visited with one of the residents (Mrs. Finney) on Avenue F. She ' was concerned about the amount of burglaries and other criminal activity in this area. Councilmember Robinson also advised he had visited with Mr. John Melton, the Director of the Good Shepherd Mission, who also expressed his concerns about the people who use the property in back of the Mission. He had also talked to Mr. Moore, who owns the house next to the Mission, and he voiced his complaint about the Loitering done on his property (including drinking, drugs and solicitation). Councilmember Robinson asked if we could patrol in this area. Mayor Hodges asked that Councilmember Robinson give Chief Eckhardt the name and phone number of the lady on Avenue F and he would respond. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 15, 1991 BOOK "0" 516 Trio to Canada CounciLmember Carter stated that he had promised to bring back some economic development information. He had received three booklets in the mail which he would bring these booklets and let everyone see them. He also stated that there was a man in the ministry in Canada had agreed that we could talk to him on the phone or call on him one way or another, to talk to him about community grass roots, economic development, etc, he would be available. ADJOURNMENT