Minutes - 01/16/2018
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 16 TH DAY OF JANUARY 2018, 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: Andy Brauninger, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez, Paul
Davidhizar, Tyler McCaffety, Keith D. Olson, Clyde D. Loll
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 p.m.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one, and indivisible.
Councilmember Loll gave an invocation and Mayor Brauninger led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Crime Stoppers Month
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 meeting held on January 2, and the special session held on January 5,
2018. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to apply for an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). \[Dr. Sherry
McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
c. Approve the purchase of components to provide encryption of data for the Police Department in the amount of
$75,194.06. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
d. Approve the purchase of one automated residential solid waste garbage truck from Chastang Ford, utilizing the
Buy-Board Cooperative, in the amount of $291,335.00. \[Daryl Uptmore, Director of Public Works\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar.
The motion was approved, 9-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to
approve annual purchase orders of various road and drainage materials from Gulf Coast, Martin Marietta, Grisham
Construction, Martin Asphalt, Cleveland Asphalt, Service Ready Mix, and Pavers Supply for a one-year term, with
an option to renew with Council approval in January 2019. \[Daryl Uptmore, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Davidhizar moved to authorize the City Manager to approve annual purchase orders of various road and
drainage materials from Gulf Coast, Martin Marietta, Grisham Construction, Martin Asphalt, Cleveland Asphalt, Service
Ready Mix, and Pavers Supply for a one-year term, with an option to renew with Council approval in January 2019; the
motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was approved, 9-0.
6. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract
for the interim City Manager. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract for the interim City Manager; the motion was
seconded by Councilmember Loll. The motion for the contract was adopted, 9-0.
7. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
An opportunity for citizens to be heard on any topic and for the City Council to participate in the discussion. No action will be
taken.
Walter Boyd, Sr. was not present.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no inquiries.
9. 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 Brauninger announced the annual HOT workshop is set for January 31st from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn &
Suites. It is a mandatory workshop for all individuals requesting Hotel Occupancy Tax funds in the FY18-19 budget. For more
information, call Kimm Thomas at 291-5932.
HISD Minute! from Mayor Pro Tem Olson – Welcome to new Superintendent Scott Sheppard. January is School Board
Recognition Month. With a theme of “Helping Kids Soar to Success!” The City Council would like to express our appreciation to
the dedicated Trustees, who volunteer their time all for the benefit of the students, staff, and community of Huntsville.
CoH Clean Minute! Councilmember Humphrey - Thanks for helping keep Home Sweet Huntsville clean. It is time to revisit or
plan your new composting project. Visit huntsvilletx.gov for easy composting tips. She added that Walk Across Texas kicks off
1/24, 11:45-1, at the Walker County Annex, Room 101. Also, she reminded all to put February 16 on the calendar for the next
Common Ground Brown Bag Picnic Lunch at noon at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, near the gift shop. Bring your lunch,
bring a friend, and come meet someone new or catch up with old acquaintances! Finally, Councilmember Humphrey
congratulated Bearkat Jeremiah Briscoe on winning the Walter Payton award, given to the "most outstanding offensive player in
the Division I Football Championship Subdivision." Briscoe’s recognition is only the second time someone has won twice.
Councilmember Davidhizar shared that the annual Genealogy Winter Lock-In will be from 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, February
18, at the Huntsville Public Library. The event is conducted by the Walker County Genealogical Society. Register online at
myhuntsvillelibrary.com.
Councilmember Emmett invited all by saying, “If you are a fan of eating breakfast for dinner while supporting literacy programs,
come to the Huntsville Kiwanis Annual Pancake Supper Fundraiser! It will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, February
16, at the Huntsville Public Library. The Supper will include a $5 all-you-can-eat feast of pancakes, sausages, milk, coffee, and
orange juice. Proceeds go to the Library.”
Councilmember Loll noted the Walker County Master Gardeners “Planting Your Spring Vegetable Garden” free workshop will be
from 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, February 19, in the Library’s Community Room.
Councilmember Allen said the 8th Annual Friends of the Huntsville Public Library Art Contest is open for students aged 5-18,
and the deadline to submit is Friday, February 23. This year’s theme is “Celebrations.” Stop by the library for more information.
The Mayor said several had Councilmembers had attended the MLK, Jr. Day parade and community gathering yesterday and
that it was a great example of how the community comes together. He also reminded everyone that the Council will be holding
their Strategic Planning session on Thursday at 4 at the Library.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 – consultation
with counsel on legal matters and 551.072 – deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real
property, concerning Proposition 1 properties.
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 6:17 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
The Council reconvened at 7:16 p.m.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:16 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary