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MIN CC 03/21/1989MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 268 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 21ST DAY OF MARCH, 1989 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER AT 6:45 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following members present: Jane Monday, Mayor William B. Green City officers present: 0. Eugene Barrett William H. Knotts, Jr. Gene Pipes, City Manager Gary Bell Percy Howard, Jr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney James L. Carter Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary Ila G. Gaines Member absent: William L. Hammock CALL TO ORDER Mayor Monday called the meeting to order for Citizen Input /Inquiry Session. CITIZEN INPUT /INQUIRY SESSION Mr. Ken Mayberry to discuss proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of barnyard animals during holiday periods Mr. Mayberry advised the Council that a rabbit can be a very effective pet. He then introduced a customer of his who had her pet rabbit with her. He said rabbits are easier to litter train than a cat and are very intelligent animals. He said he understands the reason behind the proposed ordinance is to prevent abuse. He said he would like to prevent abuse of all animals, not just these particular animals. He said he has a rabbitry business. He said everything he sees from the City of Huntsville is that they wish to bring in small business and encourage them. He said his business is small by comparison to other businesses, but they do generate business for other businesses in Huntsville (feed stores, hardware stores, lumber yards) as a direct result of what people buy from him. He said they do generate some income for the City. He said there are many more dogs and cats that are abused by neglect or abandonment in Huntsville. He said if we are going to single out three animals, he asked why we are singling out the three animals that are the least likely abused in Huntsville and not the animals that are the most abused. He said no one is advocating stopping the sale of dogs and cats in Huntsville. He said there are probably more children abused in Huntsville than there are rabbits, and no one is advocating that we stop having babies. Mr. Mayberry said those who visited with them after Sunday's article was published commented that there were probably more pressing concerns in Huntsville than rabbits, chickens and ducks (such as police patrol needs, auto thefts and related losses that rate our insurance, etc.). He said other animals can be bought on impulse at his business at Easter time, but they can also be bought at the Wal-Mart on impulse. He said some of the rabbits he sells are used as food for other animals, for research purposes, for meat products, as adult breeders, etc. He said baby chicks are a portion of his business. He requested that the Council vote against this ordinance because he felt it is unfair. Mr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney, asked at what age Mr. Mayberry sells his rabbits. Mr. Mayberry said at four weeks as they are not weaned until three weeks. Mr. Bounds asked him to review a copy of the ordinance at this time to see how it might affect his business. Mr. Mayberry reviewed the ordinance and noted it appears this ordinance would prohibit someone from going to a feed store and buying one little colored chicken for Easter. He said he comes from a law background and knows that when most people look at this ordinance, they are not going to read down to the paragraph which states: "It is a defense to prosecution . . . 1' He said he is not going to be in business next year, but even so, he thinks it is unfair. Mayor Monday invited Mr. Mayberry to stay for the discussion of this ordinance later in the agenda. FORMAL SESSION Mayor Monday then called the formal session to order. Mayor Pro tem Percy Howard Jr presented the invocation. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. f] 1 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 269 CONSIDER THE MINUTES Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve of the minutes of the meeting of March .LZ, 1989 and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Carter requested the correction of the word "conscious" to "conscientious" on the top of page 7 of the minutes in the packet's numbering sequence. This amendment was accepted by those making the motions. All were in favor of the motion on the floor as amended and it passed unanimously. CONSIDER ORDINANCE Consider Ordinance prohibiting the sale of chicks, ducklings or rabbits as domestic pets within the city limits for a period before or after specified holidays. Mr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney, advised this ordinance is in response to Councilmember Carter's request to restrict the sale of baby fowl and rabbits. He said other cities have such ordinances and he had indicated earlier he could prepare such an ordinance. Mr. Bounds said following last Tuesday evening's meeting, he contacted the National Humane Society who indicated they have a model ordinance that addresses these particular matters. He said he requested a copy, but has not yet received it. Mr. Bounds said the ordinance before the Council includes provisions from the City of Houston's ordinance as well as from another model code he has. He said the Humane Society's code prohibits the sale of any of these individual animals under a certain age. He said the Humane Society referred him to the Center for Disease Control. He said one of the problems is the risk of injury to the animals when they are sold at that age and the abandonment of the animals at a subsequent time. He said one of the more serious problems is the salmonella poisoning that results from young children handling such animals at that point. He said the Center for Disease Control is also sending some information concerning this problem. He said he is also still awaiting this information. Councilmember Carter noted he appreciates the comments of Mr. Mayberry. He re- emphasized something Mr. Mayberry referred to, noting this ordinance is not an attempt to restrict legitimate business enterprise or people engaged in selling animals as pets, not on impulse buying for pets, but under due consideration for their children or their family for the purchase of animals as pets. Secondly, he said, he does not want to restrict people who might be engaged in county fairs or other activities of that sort from being able to give their children the experience of raising animals and going through the process of selling them in that type of manner. He said they are not in disagreement about the legitimate use and legitimate sale of animals. He said this particular ordinance would not put too much of a restriction on that legitimate business purpose. He said he would like to see the Council restrict impulse buying of small animals at holiday periods when the parents or the family has not given due consideration to what they are doing. He said free enterprise was the topic of another comment. He said there are a number of things we restrict from sale; we don't sell child pornography in the city and we don't sell narcotics in the city. He said he does not want to put ducks, geese and rabbits in the same category as child pornography or drug problems, but he does not understand the argument that we would be obstructing free enterprise because there are some activities that we automatically and naturally do restrict from being sold. He said he would put this in that category. He said he wishes we could stop the abuse of dogs and cats in the city and he agrees there is more a likelihood because there are so many more of them and more of them sold so they are more likely to be abused than these animals. He said in terms of percentages, he would bet the percentages of dogs and cats abused are lower than these animals that are bought on impulse. Councilmember Carter said he also does not understand some of the other comments. He said there are research purposes in the use of some rabbits and some of those research purposes have been questioned fairly strongly in recent years, especially the testing of aerosol spray cans and other types of cosmetic materials when they are sprayed directly into the eyes of rabbits. He said if this we happening in Huntsville, he would hope we would pass an ordinance to stop that type of research purpose. He said he does not think all research purposes are adequate in terms of the good that we receive from them that MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 270 nimals should be abused in that manner. He said he also does not understand selling small rabbits for nake food. He said he would not support the notion of buying small animals to feed to snakes; while this oes happen in nature and he would not try to prevent his in nature, but would not accept human beings doing his in an artificial situation. He said he hopes this ordinance will not interfere with Mr. Mayberry's usiness or anyone else's business. Councitmember Carter said he hopes it will stop what he considers to vity. He said he can see a lot of reasons for passing this ordinance and he sees no item in the nance that would cause a problem for Mr. Mayberry's business. Councilmember Carter then made the motion Discussion: Councilmember Knotts said he feels this ordinance infringes on people's rights to make it own decisions. He said he feels this should be left up to the parents. He felt this is just sticking ernment's nose into something in which he felt it didn't have any business. Councilmember Barrett said feels Mr. Mayberry gave some real good reasons why we should not pass this ordinance. He said he feels city should encourage small businesses of any kind. He said this is an emotional factor. He said he never bought colored chickens or rabbits for his children and wouldn't, but if they don't get them here y will get them somewhere else if they really want them. He said this would be a precedent to other yes of ordinances that could come up if someone didn't like something else and then we would pass another inance. He said he didn't think the police or other city personnel should have to be going out to check this when they should be preventing robberies, etc. that are happening. He said he feels we are getting much government and if people don't want something they won't buy it. He said he didn't believe we need have someone put this in an ordinance. Councitmember Gaines agreed with Councilmember Barrett, noting she questions Councitmember Carter's reference to "illegitimate" business in that we do not have a right to judge that particular thing as being an illegitimate business. She said if a man is out there making a living off of selling chickens, who are we to say it is illegitimate to do that. She said she has a problem with that. Councilmember Carter noted a man selling a chick that is too young is engaged in an illegitimate business. Councitmember Barrett said it cannot be compared to selling narcotics or drugs, etc. Councilmember Carter argued the principle that we do restrict the sale of certain items and he is arguing this is one item of which the city should restrict the sale. Councilmember Knotts said most restrictions are for safety reasons. Councilmember Carter noted this is a safety factor with regard to the animal. Councilmember Bell said we already have an ordinance prohibiting exotic animals so the city is in he animal regulation business to some extent. Councilmember Bell said he has had a number of calls on his, two of which were from veterinarians - -Dr. Mallery and Dr. Etheredge, whose concerns involve small nimals being displayed in the hot sun without protection, oftentimes killing the animals, noting some hickens have died while sitting out in front of the Wal -Mart. He said they are also worried about the onditions in which the animals are sold. He said they like the idea of people buying pets -- chickens, ducks nd rabbits - -as oftentimes these people are very close to their pets. He said the rabbit in attendance at his meeting makes a very good point that rabbits can be pets. He said his family has a rabbit as a pet at ome. He said Dr. Mallery suggested rather than banning the sale of chicks, ducks and rabbits, that the ity require these sellers simply to secure a license at which time the city would provide them with a list f city recommendations about the conditions under which those pets are to be sold -- proper water, protecting hem from the sun, etc., and also to the seller after the purchase, a series of instructions to include uying some food for the animal. He asked if this would be a compromise. Councitmember Howard asked that the ordinance be tabled until further research could be done on this atter, as Mr. Bounds indicated he is still awaiting more information. Councilmember Howard said baby nimals are sometimes abused and small children are also sometimes abused, but we only need to see a oungster with a pet that he loves and that he plans to care for, even if it is just for two or three days, 1 1 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 271 it tends to help shape the personality of the child. He said it tends to give him something he can hold on to and something he can command. He said this kind of experience tends to go into adulthood. He said it helps make the individual a person to have a dog or a cat or baby chick or a rabbit. He said he would not want to infringe upon the right of a child. He said this is why he says this Council should look into this a little further to see just exactly what it should do and most of all not infringe upon the rights of Little children or those in business. Councilmember Bell asked Councilmember Barrett is he would object to a licensing arrangement where we simply provide a series of guidelines on how these things ought to be sold. Councilmember Barrett said that would be fine but that is not in this ordinance. Councilmember Bell said he supports Councilmember Carter's concerns, noting he bought a chicken in front of Wal -Mart and it was in pretty sad shape. Councilmember Knotts asked how this ordinance would affect feed stores as they sell chickens in lots of one or 500. Mayor Monday said that may be a more complicated issue and one of free choice. She felt this is one area in which the City of Huntsville does not need to be involved. She said if the city is concerned about abuse in these cases, that is another issue that the Council may or may not want to address. She said the question on the table now is whether or not we want to prohibit the sale. Councilmember Carter said in a final comment that no one has intended by this ordinance to prohibit the sale of small animals. He said the debate keeps wondering around this and gets turned around to mean that we are going to stop someone from having pets. He said this ordinance is not aimed at stopping people from using animals legitimately. He said every law the city passes is making a distinction as to what is legitimate and what is not legitimate. He said this is the purpose of the city council and the purpose of government to some degree to make those types of value choices or policy choices. He said the intention here is not to stop someone from having the experience of having pets, not to stop someone from having a business of selling small animals for Legitimate purposes, but there are illegitimate uses of animals and there are illegitimate sales of these animals for what he would consider to be illegitimate purposes. He said he is sorry this city council as a whole does not seem to see that or have a sensitivity enough to the issue, but he appreciates their willingness to take a further look at the ordinance and perhaps come back with something that will at least address part of the problem. Upon a vote on the motion. Councilmember Carter voted in favor and all of the other councilmembers and the mayor voted against. The motion therefore failed by a vote of one to eight CONSIDER BIDS Consider bid 89 -16 for water supplies to Big State Utility in the amount of $10,559.20 to be paid from capital improvement project (C.I.P.) funds City Manager Gene Pipes presented the five bids for the purchase of 1000 feet of 12 inch DR 18 PVC water pipe noting the bids were all very close. He advised it is the recommendation of the Purchasing Department to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications from Big State Utility in the amount of $10,559.20. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve of this bid and Councilmember Howard seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Consider bid 89 -17 for flexible base rock to Gifford Hill and Company at $6.50 per ton for an annual contract purchase to be funded as needed for inventory from maintenance and C.I.P. funds City Manager, Gene Pipes, advised a total of five bid packets were mailed out for this material. He then presented the single bid received. Mr. Pipes advised for a number of years we have not been able to find another bidder within close proximity for this base rock. He said the shipping cost gets to be very high from any other source of comparable quality material. He said they have continued to try to find other vendors with material that is sufficiently comparable that the city could compare ,apples to apples." He said the city continues to take an annual bid for a contract to supply this type of material and thus far has not been successful in finding other bidders, however, Gifford Hill and Co., Inc. has remained very competitive. Mr. Johnny Poteete, Director of Public Works, noted the price had been $6.00 per ton and is now $6.50 per ton. Mr. Pipes then recommended approval of this bid. Councilmember Green made the motion to MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 272 Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, advised five bids were mailed out and two bids were received for the nnual contract for purchasing one ton cylinders of chlorine for the water and sewer plants. He said it is he recommendation of the Purchasing Division to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications submitted by cetylene Oxygen Company. Councilmember Howard made the motion to approve of this bid as presented and Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, presented the bids from five vendors for the purchase of water Dlies for the installation of a 12 inch waterline on 22nd Street. He advised it is the recommendation of Purchasing Division to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications presented to the City of Huntsville Big State Utility Company in the amount of $66,942.57 to be paid from capital improvement funds. CONSIDER FIRE WORKS CONTRACT Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, presented information for the Council's approval wherein the West ills Mall would contract with the City to conduct the July 4 fireworks show at the Mall. He said the city ould then in turn hire Mr. Jerry Etheredge, local pyrotechnic, to conduct the fireworks show and use a 50.00 rider on the city's liability insurance policy to cover the insurance requirements for this event. ouncilmember Green urged the City to take some action to insure better traffic control for the event as ell. Mr. Pipes advised extra officers will be on duty to handle the traffic situation. Councilmember CONSIDER BASEBALL FENCE NETTING The City Manager, Gene Pipes, then presented a request from Tommy Martin, Commissioner, Huntsville oys Baseball Association, for approval of the addition of green netting to be added to the outfield fences in fields 2 and 3 at Kate Barr Ross Park. He said this netting will be similar in appearance with the fence in field 4 (high school). It was noted the netting, poles and hardware to attach to the outfield fences ill be furnished by the Baseball Association. Mr. Ray Black, Parks Superintendent, stated in a memorandum lated March 16 that the Association is requesting that a portable fence be installed above the present four oot high fence on the outfield. He noted the type of fence they propose to install does meet with the ity's approval. He said all costs and construction associated with this installation will be paid for by he Huntsville Boys Baseball. He said the staff would like to recommend that the portable fence be removed fter the baseball season is over to prevent vandalism occurring to the net during the off season. Mr. Lack said the staff will supervise the construction of the portable fence to insure that it will be nstalled to the proposed design. Councilmember Green made the motion to approve of this additional netting MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Monday then presented the joint Resolution between the City and the County which would fficially commission the "New Army of the Republic of Texas" to perpetuate the free spirit of the early 1 1 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 273 volunteers of the original Army of the Republic of Texas and preserve General Houston's legacy and property in his Texas hometown of Huntsville. JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 89 -1 JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF THE COUNTY OF WALKER TO COMMISSION THE NEW ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS The resolution called upon all members to bear true faith and allegiance to the spirit of Sam Houston and to dedicate themselves to increase the awareness of all Texans as well as others of the Sam Houston Memorial Complex, University, and grave of Sam Houston and to dedicate themselves to promote, encourage, and emphasize the great history of this area and the great State of Texas. The Resolution further commissioned Robert D. Hardy, Adjutant General and Chief of Staff of the New Army of the Republic of Texas and authorized him to commission his staff. Adjutant General Bob Hardy then addressed the Council concerning the success of the program to obtain contributions to the Museum last year. He said the advertisement the effort has received has brought in even more donations. He said the showing of local support played a significant role in the SHSU Board of Regents finding some monies to keep the museum open. Mayor Monday advised there will be 3,500 school children here for the Festival free of cost to sample life in the 18501s. She noted the Festival begins on Friday, April 21 and goes through Sunday, April 23 with over 1000 entities involved representing the ethnic cultures of the state. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to adopt this resolution and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Museum Association Meeting Mayor Monday advised of a recent Museum Association Meeting where all the representatives from the various little towns and proposed museums within the county meet on a monthly basis to consolidate and help with grant writing and support each other and share information. She said it looks like it will be a very good association. She said it is just now getting off the ground. She said she feels we will see a lot of good quality effort out of it. Tree Planted at Rather Park Mayor Monday advised she planted a tree at Rather Park recently in memory of "POP" Oliver, a Long-time employee of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She said the Pioneer Association, a retired group associated with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, adopted this park during the Sesquicentennial and has added a number of trees. She said along with this particular tree, they have also added a new flower bed facing 13th Street. Kevin Williams' Bowling Tournament (officer killed in line of duty on March 9, 1985) Mayor Monday advised she did bowl in the Kevin Williams' Bowling Tournament held to raise funds to sponsor youth- oriented activities in the community. Police Chief, Hank Eckhardt, Jr., said there were about 31 to 36 teams that bowled in this event and some $600 to $700 was earned for the activities fund. Economic Network Committee Mayor Monday advised this committee met on Monday at noon to discuss the various activities ongoing economically in the community. interagency Breakfast Mayor Monday said she also met with the interagency group recently. Penal Directors Meeting Welcome Mayor Monday stated she welcomed the Penal Directors Meeting here in Huntsville this afternoon. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 274 Trevor Fountain's Suggestions Mayor Monday conveyed some suggestions from Mr. Fountain that he has observed in other towns that he has been in with the various teams he is with, as follows: 1. They all have signs directing them to the various schools. She said in Huntsville there are no signs directing people to the various schools. She said Mr. Fountain took a map of Huntsville and walked and drove it and presented the map to the city showing the proposed sign locations he recommends for the various schools. She then passed this information on to the City Manager, Gene Pipes, and the Director of Public Works, Johnny Poteete. Mayor Monday commended the University for their signage to the various buildings on campus. 2. Parking around the Courthouse. Mayor Monday advised Mr. Fountain has some ideas in this regard which she is passing on to County Judge Frank J. Robinson, Jr. She said Mr. Fountain has a number of good ideas in his letter which she plans to pass along. She said she likes to receive comments like these. She thanked Trevor for his input. COUNCIL ACTION Recycling Councilmember Barrett thanked the City Manager for the article on recycling that appeared in the packet and encouraged everyone to read it. He said that he hoped some time in the near future the city can implement some of these ideas. Mayor Monday interjected here that she spoke recently with two of the County Commissioners who wish to call a meeting of the joint solid waste disposal group to talk about recycling and the things we may be able to do with that. She said she will notify the Council when a date has been set. She said councilmembers who are interested may wish to attend that session. She said they wish to took at some signage to encourage people to recycle. She said she also discussed with them at the town meeting recently the idea of beatification and clean -up of the community. She said they spoke of it again and it was suggested it should be a Walker County focus rather than just a city focus. She said they are going to look at putting a steering committee together to at least look at this to see if there is significant interest by individual volunteers. She said she would keep the council advised of this and if the council has a list of people they would like to recommend to work with this she would be happy to receive that information. East Texas Folk Festival- -Use of McDonald's Signs Councilmember Gaines advised McDonald's is letting the Festival Committee use four signs on the I -45 corridor as far up as Centerville to advertise the Folk Festival. She said after the Festival, two of those will be used to advertise the Prison Museum. Mayor Monday advised she has learned the Prison Museum representatives have set April 20 as their tentative opening date. Licensing of Sellers of Barnyard Animals during Holiday Seasons Councilmember Bell encouraged the council not to scrap entirely the proposed ordinance that would protect the small chickens, ducks and rabbits, but to perhaps revise the ordinance to require a licensing or some sort of regulation for those who would engage in the sale of these animals. Mayor Monday then asked for a consensus on this idea. Upon a hand vote, only Councilmembers Bell and Carter voted in favor and all the other councilmembers and the mayor indicated they would not support such an ordinance The idea then failed. SHSU Library Letter of February 22 1989 Councilmember Bell inquired into the status of the letter from the SHSU Library dated February 22, 1989 containing recommendations for making the City's library more responsive to the public needs. Mayor Monday advised she referred that letter on to Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager and to Ms. Judy Hunter, City Librarian, to ask them to review it so that she can get back with Dr. Casper, SHSU Library Director, with an appropriate response. 1 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P" 275 Councilmember Bell expressed a concern he received from a resident of the Sandbrook Subdivision wherein his child had a near accident. He wanted to know what the city's speed limit is within enclosed neighborhoods. He said apparently it is posted 30 MPH and he would like to have the speed limit lowered to 15 MPH. Mr. Pipes said state law specifies the standard for travel speed is 30 MPH except in specially designated areas and generally school zones are all reserved for lower speed limits. He said there are other exceptions, of course, but generally neighborhood streets are not intended as a play place for children and things of that nature and expediting and moving traffic in and out is the purpose. He said a 30 MPH speed with a reasonable and prudent driver should be safe to maintain. He said in school areas, because of all the foot traffic, the speed is lower. He said the Council has the general authority to change the general overall nature of the speed regulations, but 30 MPH is standard in all cities everywhere except specially designated areas. Councilmember Bell asked the Police Department to monitor the speeds in the Sandbrook Subdivision as this citizen feels motorists are driving far in excess of 30 MPH. Councilmember Barrett said the City may wish to put up some signs like it did on Normal Park that indicate there are "Children at Play." as that will slow down the traffic in this situation. Councilmember Bell advised this citizen lives on Clay Circle and the problem is on the main entrance street. Johnny Poteete, Director of Public Works, advised the street in question is probably Winding Way. Mayor Monday asked the City Manager to look into this and advise the Council later. Environmental Policy--Laying of Utility Lines Councilmember Bell advised he feels good about the letter presented last week and the accompanying policy concerning how we will plan the route for utility lines so as to be environmentally sensitive. He said it may be appropriate to include the city's approach, time schedule, how we are going to flag, and how much time for response, etc. within the letter so that the resident knows precisely how much time they have and what is the city's course of action. Mr. Pipes indicated the staff has incorporated the suggestions made last week and he will be happy to bring this back to the Council next week for another review. Farmer's Market Meeting Councilmember Carter advised there is a Farmer's Market meeting being held tonight in the community. He said while he understands there are some groups working on this as it has been discussed for some time, in the article advertising this meeting, it indicated this group had found a place for the Farmer's Market. He said it seems to him that a Farmer's Market that is not located on 1-45 is not going to be successful in this community. He said the main reason he brought up the idea in the first place is to try to capture some of those people moving up and down the highway. He said he would hate to see the city get into a situation where it is locked into a place where the city has not been engaged in the discussions and where he thinks it is probably not going to work very well, especially if it is not on 1-45. He said while he does not know who is involved in this group, he would like to see someone from the city, to the extent that the City Council is interested in the idea, making contact with the county agent or these farmers to let them know that if we are doing it that we are working on a project of this sort and that we want to be participants and that we would prefer, if the council agrees, to have this facility located on I -45 to capture some tourist traffic. Mayor Monday said she has been working with this group on a volunteer basis because she is interested in it. She said the county agents are heading this up and they have determined they need to inventory who they have in the county who could participate and to identify the market to be able to guarantee the goods. She said they have done this and they are looking for a location, which of course, takes dollars and at the present time there aren't any dollars. She said they had a generous offer from Walker County Commissioner Gaines in Precinct 1 to utilize the Walker County property there to begin this and to start it this year since the growing season has already begun. She said their idea is to open it up in front of the Commissioner's Barn, to get it established, to identify their farmers and to get them on MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 21, 1989 Book "P° 276 board. She said they have talked to the Grants Committee which is more than willing to come in behind them. She said no one is opposed to a location on I -45 if eventually we can get there with the dollars and location. She encouraged Councilmember Carter to meet with them also and to give them his support. She encouraged him and others interested to call Mr. Wayne Lacy, Walker County Extension Agent. H -GAC Meeting on February 15. 1989 Mayor Pro tem Howard advised the speaker for the H -GAC Meeting on February 15 was Senator Phil Gramm who told about the inherent problems with the Texas prison system, noting Texans must become more concerned for those who pay the bills rather than making it comfortable for the offenders. He said he also pointed out that the William Wade Justice philosophy is not working for the taxpayers of Texas and that a new system should be instituted whereby offenders can pay back to society and to those that they have harmed. He said the Senator also made some points in the economic situation in that Texas is in the driver's seat. Mayor Pro tem Howard said Senator Gramm is looking at five major economic advances, one of which is the deep sea port in Corpus Christi; a second is the medical center in Houston which is now the center for world research in medicine; a third is the $2.5 million dollars to be spent in space exploration; fourth, the new industry that is moving into Austin; and fifth, the federal government is now going to establish 80 new enterprise zones and his feeling is that Texas will get eight or ten of them. RECESS TO WORK SESSION The Council then recessed to a work session to review the comprehensive plan. The Council did not reconvene. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary March 21, 1989