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MIN CC 03/22/1988r� 1 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22, 1988 BOOK "P" 51 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 22ND DAY OF MARCH, 1988 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE AND COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:45 P.M. The Council met in a regular session.with the following members present: Jane Monday, Mayor 0. Eugene Barrett City officers Present: Gary Bell James L. Carter Gene Pipes, City Manager Ila G. Gaines William B. Green Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary William L. Hammock Percy Howard, Jr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney William H. Knotts, Jr. FORMAL MEETING Mayor Monday then called the formal session to order. Reverend Earnest Grover, Jr. presented the invocation. RECOGNIZE HUNTSVILLE CHILDREN'S CHOIR Recognize and hear. at the request of the Mayor, the Huntsville Children's Choir, directed by David Czervinske and Joan Howev Mayor Monday introduced the Huntsville Children's Choir, consisting of 59 elementary school children. She then read from an HISD brochure about the Choir which said the "... Choir was founded in October of 1986 by Huntsville ISD Music teachers, Joan Howey and David Czervinske, to meet the need for a quality vocal ensemble opportunity for the children of Huntsville. The choir is composed of boys and girls in grades three, four and five who have demonstrated a strong musical aptitude and commitment. Auditions for the 1987 -88 choir drew nearly three hundred applicants from the four elementary schools in Huntsville... In addition to performances with the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, the choir has also performed for the Walker County Fair, area nursing homes, and civic groups. The choir was awarded a First Division rating at the Blinn College Music Meet in April, 1987. The Huntsville Children's Choir was founded on the basic ideals of Zoltan Kodaly, who insisted that music for children should be of the highest quality and that they be expected to perform with a high level of artistic excellence. The growth that the Huntsville Children's Choir has experienced in less than one year serves as evidence of the truth in Kodaly's words." Mayor Monday noted it is truly a delight to have them here this evening to perform for the City Council. The Choir sang several selections for the Council after which Mayor Monday expressed the Council's appreciation and presented the Directors a special "Greetings" certificate and provided them with one for each of the choir members. CONSIDER MINUTES Consider the minutes of the March 15. 1988 meeting Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve of the March 15 1988 minutes and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Knotts asked that the minutes be correct to reflect that he voted against the motion to approve the T.V. Inspection and Grouting Equipment, noting he did not vote for it, but failed to express outloud his opposition; however, that was his intention as he wished to remain consistent with his previous votes on this matter. Councilmembers Barrett and Gaines accepted this amendment to their motion. Upon a vote of the amended motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22, 1988 BOOK "P° 52 CONSIDER ARTS GRANT PROJECT (Discuss the Texas Commission on the Arts Grant Project with Dr. Jack Staggs. Chairman of the Arts Commission Dr. Staggs advised that the current three year matching funds grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts is in its third and final year. He said the Commission wishes to keep the Council abreast of its efforts. He advised one of the Commission's activities this year concerns a downtown project along the mainstreet guidelines that will bring an architectural allusion artist, named Richard Haas, to Huntsville to make a presentation and consult with property owners or tenants of the downtown buildings regarding the possibility of painting onto some of those buildings around the Square. He said the Commission also decided to invite a restoration architect, named Ken Williams from Austin, to attend these meetings. He noted both of these professionals will be in Huntsville March 24 and 25, 1988 for an exploratory visit to make an on -site inspection of the buildings surrounding the Square and to secure information from property owners or tenants, city officials, and members of the Arts Commission. He said they will then meet with the Arts Commission on the afternoon of March 24 and will meet with the property owners and /or tenants that evening. Dr. Staggs then invited the City Council and Mayor to attend a breakfast with Messers. Haas and Williams on Friday morning at the Holiday Inn at 7:00 A.M. to meet these individuals and to welcome them to our city. Dr. Staggs advised the grant makes provision for the Commission to secure the services of consultants to get input from owners and to develop scaled drawings of the downtown area following the visits. He said the Commission wishes to make the best use of these men's time while they are in Huntsville. He hoped the Mayor and Council would be able to attend this breakfast meeting Friday morning. Mayor Monday asked that the Council R.S.V.P. with Ruth DeShaw concerning this breakfast. CONSIDER AMENDING DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN Consider a Proposed amendment to deferred compensation Plans as required by changes in the Internal Revenue Code Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, advised the Tax Reform Act of 1986 amended section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code to permit the transfer of deferred amounts between eligible deferred compensation plans of different employers. He noted IRS regulations previously permitted such transfers only between employers in the same state. He then presented the proposed amendment provided by the ICMA Retirement Corporation, with whom the City has contracted for its deferred compensation plan. He said this amendment will automatically become a part of the City's plan unless the City notifies them to the contrary. Councilmember Howard made the motion to approve of this amendment to the plan and Councilmember Green seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion Passed unanimously. CONSIDER LANDFILL SCALES Consider bid for landfill scales to R & R Scales Company for $19,472. plus $1,850 freight to total of $21.322 to be Daid from unallocated reserve in the sanitation fund as recommended by staff. The City Manager, Gene Pipes, advised there were seven bids received, ranging in amount from the low bid of $21,322 to $29,517 plus freight. He advised the scales are sixty ton, forty foot pitless low profile concrete scales installed with electronic read out with RS 232 interfacing for computer. He then presented the staff's recommendation to award the bid to R & R Scales Company of Irving, Texas in the amount of $21,322, which includes some $1,850 in freight charges. Mr. Pipes advised that while a certificate of obligation was planned and authorized for this purchase, he is recommending a cash purchase of the landfill scales from carry forward funds in the sanitation capital reserve fund. He advised with the completion of the audit, there is available $103,041 in additional carry forward funds and that the balance in the sanitation capital reserve fund is now $134,672. Councilmember Knotts made the motion to approve of this bid and this method of funding the scales and Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion All were in favor 1 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22, 1988 BOOK "P" 53 and the motion Passed unanimously. Mayor Monday asked the City secretary to prepare an informational letter to the County Commissioner's Court concerning this purchase to keep them informed of the Council's actions concerning the landfill operations. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT- -GENE PIPES Sales Tax Rebate Information Mr. Pipes presented the comparison of sales tax revenues for the past seven fiscal years. He advised the number being reported for March is $119,023.94 and that this amount includes the 1/2% additional sales tax, or $39,674.65, which will be used to offset property taxes, so that the actual comparable figure is $79,349.29 for March, as compared to $83,307.81 for March of FY 86 -87. He said white we are a little below this time last year, it is difficult to calculate that figure and it would be safe to say we are probably rather "flat" on that figure. He noted, however, considering only the 1% sales tax, the city is approximately $35,090.26 ahead of last fiscal year, or some 5% to -date. Councitmember Bell said it is his understanding that the excess taxes generated by the 1/2 cent sales tax will be placed into a reserve fund to be applied toward street rehabilitation projects. Mr. Pipes said this is correct and it has been factored into the city's calculations of the overall street program as a set - aside. Councilmember Green asked for more detailed information on what may be happening in regard to total sales in Huntsville, how much of the taxes collected this time can be attributed to the expanded tax base. He was interested in the actual sates figures from the Comptroller's office. Patricia Allen, Director of Finance, advised the Comptroller provides a breakdown by industry in broad categories and this is available for the past five years in her office. Councilmember Green thought a review of those figures would be a good indication as to what is happening in the Huntsville economy. He said it would provide a better indicator than just the sales tax information itself. He said he would like to have some information as to what might be actualty happening to total sales, not just taxable sates. Ms. Allen said she would get that information for the Council to review. Pre -bid conference for new Phone system Gene Pipes, City Manager, advised a pre-bid conference was held today with the telephone consultant, Mr. Ken Barker of Cygna Communications Corporation of Houston presiding. He said five of the potential ten bidder group on the telephone service, planned to be bid out during this fiscal year, were in attendance. He said he feels this is an indicator that the bids will be competitive. He said the city is bidding this system to purchase, not lease, so the Councilmembers may be contacted individually. He advised them to refer any such calls to him or the Director of Finance, Patricia Allen. Gulf States Utilities Inventory of Street Lights Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, advised the city is in receipt this week of the inventory of the street lights from Gulf States Utilities, showing wattages and billing costs. He said the city is about to receive the computer disk with the information on it so that it can be coordinated with the city's other data and information to do a rapid check of how we are being billed for this program. He said he will be reporting back to the Council at some time in the future. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT- -JANE MONDAY Attendance at HARC'S oven house at the Woodlands Mayor Monday advised she attended an open house at the Houston Area Research Council to view a new facility. She said she is anticipating and hoping there will be an alliance in the near future with Sam Houston State University. MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 22, 1988 BOOK "P" 54 Three lane intersection at Normal Park and 11th Street Suggested Mayor Monday asked the City Manager to took at Normal Park and 11th Street and the possibility of doing a three lane division there with a left hand turn. She asked for a response in the near future for this possibility. The City Manager advised he will have a response. COUNCIL ACTION East Texas Folk Festival Brochures Councilmember Ila Gaines called the Council's attention to the two new East Texas Folk Life Festival brochures. She encouraged the councilmembers to volunteer to help with this activity. Mayor Monday noted it has been learned there is a good possibility to Clydesdales will be here for the parade, there will be a stagecoach coming. Hotel - Convention Center Proiect Councilmember Bell advised of his surprise at the information in the Huntsville Item this date concerning the proposed hotel - convention center project and the possibility that it will not be built in Huntsville. He felt there was only one side presented. He said he found the charges of squabbling in the city irritating. He said he is surprised at the allegation that $500,000 has been spent trying to get this facility established in Huntsville. He asked if it would be appropriate for the City to respond to this information in some way because he feels the city did go to a great deal of effort to secure that facility and that it was extremely cooperative. Mayor Monday noted this idea could be entertained and that those that worked on this project wilt be available to respond to any questions. She said she worked with it 18 months and there was never a conflict in any of the negotiations. Councilmember Bell felt the city's work and effort has, in some sense, been betrayed by Mr. Tom Crider's comments in this news story. Councilmember Knotts suggested perhaps the squabbling was with others in the community and not with city hall. Councilmember Hammock, speaking from a Chamber of Commerce committee member perspective, having worked on this project, felt the remarks of Mr. Crider were more "sour grapes" than having anything to do with the attitudes of those with whom he was working in Huntsville. While he supported Councilmember Bells' concerns, he felt it may be better, in this instance, to "Let that old dog go on back to sleep." EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor and Council then recessed to an executive session to discuss pending litigation: Schaper v. City of Huntsville; Acker v. City of Huntsville, et.al., and a personnel matter: performance of the City Manager. Mayor Monday noted the Council does not expect to reconvene in formal session, however, if, it becomes necessary, the media will be contacted to return to City Hall. The Council, however, did not reconvene. ADJOURNMENT { R ctfully su itted, Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary March 22, 1988