Minutes - 09/02/2014
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 2 DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2014, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 6:00 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish
Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 P.M.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – City Manager Matt Benoit gave an invocation and Danielle Hill led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Councilmember Humphrey introduced Tyler Livezey, External Affairs representative of the SHSU Student Government
Association, who offered his assistance.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Public Comments will be called for by the presiding officer before action is taken on these items. (Approval of Consent Agenda
authorizes the City Manager to implement each item in accordance with staff recommendations. An item may be removed
from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory Agenda for full discussion by request of a member of Council.)
a. Approve the minutes of the City Council Regular Session held on August 19, 2014. \[Lee Woodward, City
Secretary\]
b. Approve Resolution 2014-14 designating The Huntsville Item as the official newspaper for the City of Huntsville
for FY 2014-15, annual item. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson.
The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
City Council will hold a public hearing to receive citizen input regarding the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Annual Budget.
The Public Hearing was opened at 6:04 p.m. Karl Davidson offered budget recommendations for reducing the tax rate and
revising the budget, addressing what he felt was waste in consultancy projects. The Hearing was closed at 6:16 p.m.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve decision packages for the FY14-15 budget. \[Matt
Benoit, City Manager\] (page numbers given are behind tab 5 in the budget notebook)
1. Proposed Uses of Unallocated Reserves from each fund (p. 5-1 to 5-3).
2. City-wide additions and deletions to positions (p. 5-4).
3. Proposed funding sources and levels of various employee benefits (p. 5-5 to 5-6).
4. General Fund Capital Improvement Projects (p. 5-7 to 5-8).
5. Space Needs Assessments for City Hall, Service Center/Garage and Warehouse, Police Department and Fire
Station #2 (p. 5-9 to 5-10).
6. Water Fund Capital Improvement Projects (p. 5-11 to 5-14).
7. Wastewater Fund Capital Improvement Projects (p. 5-15 to 5-17).
8. Solid Waste Transfer Station Replacement Design and Partial Construction Funding (p. 5-18).
9. Street Condition Assessment Study (p. 5-19).
Councilmember Olson moved to approve decision packages for the FY14-15 budget and was seconded by
Councilmember Montgomery. Councilmember Allen asked to pull 6a(5) and the portion of 6a(1) related to the cost of
6a(5).
Councilmember Brauninger moved to increase the General Fund sales tax estimate by $22,716, to a total of $6,822,716,
for the fiscal year 2014-2015, and to increase the Library part-time position count by two part-time Circulation Clerks, and
increase the part-time salary account for the Library by $22,716, to a total of $118,301, effective October 1, 2014, and
was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The amendment was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
Councilmember Rodriquez asked to pull item 6a(7). The amended main motion (less items 6a(7) and 6a(5), and the
portion of item 6a(1) related to item 6a(5)) passed unanimously, 9-0.
Councilmember Olson moved to approve item 6a(5) and the funds for $450,000 related to it in item 6a(1) and was
seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. Councilmember Allen said he did not support funding the space needs
assessments for City Hall, Service Center/Garage and Warehouse, Police Department, and Fire Station #2.
Councilmember Brauninger urged that any studies done be utilized in a timely manner and asked for prioritization of the
studies. Councilmember Emmett suggested needs assessments were not needed, but that project plans and
implementation were. The motion passed, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve item 6a(7) and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey.
Councilmember Rodriquez questioned the need for the $150,000 study in addition to the previous condition assessment
conducted in 2013. Carol Reed, Director of Public Works, and City Engineer Ram Ramachandra said the proposal would
be for detailed engineering to perform the upgrades prioritized in the previous study. City Manager Matt Benoit elaborated
on the assessment/design/construction process and their relation to the City Charter requirements for competition and
planning process. The motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve nominations for City boards,
committees, and commissions. \[Mayor Woodward\]
The Mayor moved his nominations (below), which were approved unanimously, 9-0.
Hotel Occupancy Tax Board Joshua Winston, reappointment
Scotty Cherryholmes, reappointment Codey Winston, appointment
TIRZ #1 Board of Directors City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory
Don Johnson, reappointment Board
Dalene Zender, reappointment Richard Yawn, reappointment
Michelle Bright, appointment
Youth Advisory Board Stephen Bright, appointment
Danielle Hill, reappointment David DeKerlegand, appointment
Dustin Mendoza, reappointment David Lanoue, appointment
b. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
a. TRA update
b. Phase I proposal for sewer design
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c. 7 Street engineering contract
d. Smith Hill water line bid
Carol Reed presented an update on the Trinity River Authority (TRA) plant improvements and was thanked by
the Council. City Engineer Ram Ramachandra discussed the Phase I design for the Town Creek sanitary sewer
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and engineering for along 7 Street to Avenue M, and bidding for the water line on Smith Hill. City Manager
Benoit announced all green-light projects from the prior CIP project evaluation (conducted six months ago) were
coming along very well and that he would be providing the Council with a thorough review of all projects.
Councilmember Allen asked the City Manager asked for an update on the Safe Routes to School sidewalks
project at the September 16 City Council meeting.
8. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
No requests were received by noon on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. The Mayor permitted Jerry DeWitt to speak, who
expressed displeasure with the amount proposed for consultants. Karl Davidson also spoke in opposition, and asked the
Councilmembers to review prior studies and see that they were being used. Ken Holland, a current City U. participant,
commended the Council and staff with whom he had come in contact through the program.
9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
Stephen Green, The Huntsville Item, asked Mr. Benoit about prior building assessments, and was told they were actually on
water and wastewater systems. Mr. Green also asked if design was planned in the year following the proposed assessments
discussed this evening, and Mr. Benoit referred to the Charter requirements for ballot initiatives for issuance of debt. Rather,
Mr. Benoit said, he proposed that planning and public engagement for input and recommendation would occur in 2016-2017,
as current debt was being retired.
10. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
(Hear announcements concerning items of community interest from the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff for
which no action will be discussed or taken.)
Mayor Woodward made the following announcements:
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- The library’s 14 Street book drop is open and ready for use.
- The Heart Walk will be held Saturday, September 27, from 9-11 a.m., contact Karen Bilsing at 291-3411 for more
information.
- The first meeting in October is set for October 7 at 5 p.m., so that we can potentially finish early and allow
Councilmembers to attend National Night Out events. The schedule of events has been updated, they will be held from 4-
7 p.m. at the Target center, but parades or parties with neighborhood associations will begin at 5 or 5:30 (contact your
neighborhood association liaison for final times). If you don’t have a neighborhood group, you can contact Officer Mark
Jenkins at 936-291-5480.
- The City’s State of the City address will be held on October 21, with a time and location to be announced.
- The City would accept public input on way-finding signage at the public library on Monday, September 15, at 5:30 p.m.
- Additionally, it has been the practice of the last several years to move the Council meeting that falls on the first Tuesday of
November, as it is election night, this year November 4. It will be the same this year, cancelling the Nov. 4 meeting and
holding the second regular meeting date in November, which will be November 18. Due to a change in the Election Code,
the City may also conduct its election canvass on that date.
- The City would again honor POW/MIA Remembrance Day on Friday, September 19, at 6:45 a.m.
Councilmember Humphrey reminded all that just because something was printed, facts still need to be verified, and that City
Councilmembers receive $10 per meeting. She said the SHSU football team had extended their winning streak and won last
Saturday. Councilmember Johnson recommended all read the summer issue of the SHSU alumni magazine and its story on
the new projects and construction plans.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary