Minutes - 02/06/2018
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 6 TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 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, Paul Davidhizar, Tyler
McCaffety, Keith D. Olson
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Joe P. Rodriquez, Clyde D. Loll
OFFICERS PRESENT: Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Leonard Schneider, City
Attorney
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 Humphrey gave an invocation and Shane Riley of HISD led the pledges. Mayor Brauninger welcomed guests
from Atlanta, Georgia.
3. 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 16, and the special session for Strategic Planning
held on January 18, 2018. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the Interim City Manager to accept an award from the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division
for the Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program for $9,499.98, adopt Resolution 2018-06 in support of same, and
adopt Ordinance 2018-10 to amend the budget for FY 17-18. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
c. Authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for the 2018 Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) JAG Grant for
$41,400.00 and adopt Resolution 2018-07 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
d. Authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for the Governor’s Office 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program for
$47,575.00, and adopt Resolution 2018-08 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
e. Authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant for $14,200.00.
\[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
f. Authorize the Interim City Manager to approve the purchase of office supplies and related items estimated to
exceed $50,000 from Office Depot utilizing National IPA Purchasing Cooperative (Region 4 ESC) with a renewal
date of February 28, 2019, and an expiration date of February 28, 2020. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
g. Authorize the Mayor to sign Addendum A to the Agreement for Professional Services and Employment for Interim
City Manager Aron Kulhavy.
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar.
The motion was approved, 7-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the
Interim City Manager to enter into a contract with Architects Design Group for the design of the Huntsville Police
and Fire Department Proposition/Bond Project #1, first reading. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety;
Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager\]
First reading, no action taken. Melissa Brand-Vokey, AIA, regional director of Architects Design Group, was introduced to
the Council.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the Interim City Manager
and the City Attorney to execute all necessary paperwork for the sale of property located at 1930 A Sam Houston
to Amstad Huntsville, LLC, in the amount of $61,100.\[Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager\]
Mayor Brauninger moved to adjourn the Council into Executive Session under Government Code Sections 551.071 and
551.072. Without objection, the Council adjourned at 6:09 p.m. The Council reconvened at 6:33 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the Interim City Manager and the City Attorney to execute all necessary
paperwork for the sale of property located at 1930 A Sam Houston Avenue to Amstad Huntsville, LLC, in the amount of
$61,100; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was approved, 5-2, Mayor Brauninger and
Councilmember Allen voting against.
5. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider directing the Main Street Program
Advisory Committee to review parking restrictions in the downtown area (particularly around the square) and
present any necessary and appropriate recommendations for changes and/or restrictions to the City Council no
later than April 3, 2018. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved that the City Manager direct the Main Street Program Advisory Committee to review parking
restrictions in the downtown area (particularly around the square) and present any necessary and appropriate
recommendations for changes and/or restrictions to the City Council no later than April 3, 2018; the motion was seconded
by Councilmember McCaffety. Bert Lyle offered public comment. Mr. Kulhavy confirmed that City staff is available to the
Committee. The motion was adopted, 7-0.
6. 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.
Hear request from Perry Little concerning the placement of travel trailers in mobile home parks.
Mr. Little offered his comments.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no inquiries.
8. 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 asked Mr. Kulhavy to give an update on the progress of Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center. He said
siding has been placed on the building, railing around the porch has begun, the fireplace is near completion, and electricians
have been there all week installing the electrical outlets.
The Mayor also noted that, as has been seen in the paper recently, SHSU announced traffic changes around the campus. The
permanent changes to the streets will take place over Spring Break and take effect March 19.
Mayor Brauninger said the City’s next Brand Review presentation will be here at City Hall at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13.
There will be more of these meetings this spring. If you would like a presentation for your group, church, or workplace – we’re
happy to come visit you!
HISD Minute! (Mayor Pro Tem Olson) – Huntsville High School will hold a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student
Showcase with an Open House from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, February 22 at the HHS Practice Gymnasium.
CoH Clean Minute! (Councilmember Humphrey) – 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! She also announced that WineQuest is an upcoming annual charity event
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Huntsville, benefiting the students of HISD. It will be an elegant evening of fine wines, great
food, soft music, and a live auction at Magnolia Lake on February 23. Buddy Aber, Maureen McIntyre, and Marjolein Lemmon
are here to visit with after the meeting, or reach out to any of your favorite Rotarians for tickets. This will support the EarlyAct
FirstKnight virtues program.
Mayor Pro Tem Olson shared that the City of Huntsville Parks and Leisure Department will host a free Major League Baseball®
Pitch Hit & Run™ and Jr. Home Run Derby Competition for boys and girls, ages 7 to 14, Saturday, March 3, at Kate Barr Ross
Park. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with competitions starting at 10 a.m. Find out more online at HuntsvilleTX.gov.
Councilmember Davidhizar said he loves eating breakfast for dinner while supporting literacy programs, so encouraged all to
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 Allen discussed that the Wynne Home Arts & Visitors Center will be hosting two weekends of Black History
celebrations. The first event will be Saturday, February 10, with a reception by Walker County Genealogical Society at 3 p.m.
The afternoon will feature a lecture, fine arts presentations, and a quilt exhibit. Festivities continue at 4 p.m., February 17, with
a program by Naomi Carrier, including a children’s event and re-enactment of an Underground Railroad story.
Councilmember Emmett reminded the Council to join everyone at the Chamber’s Business & Community Expo on March 1 at
the Walker County Fairgrounds. Your admission includes dining at the Taste of Huntsville and access to all the exhibitors. Call
295-8113 for more information.
Councilmember McCaffety said not to forget that the annual Texas Independence Day and Sam Houston Birthday activities will
take place on March 2. There is more information on the events section at the Tourism Department’s website,
HuntsvilleTexas.com.
Mayor Brauninger said he and his wife had attended the third annual Huntsville Diamond’s Cancer Survivor’s dinner and found
it very moving.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.072,
regarding consultation with counsel on legal matters concerning the deliberation of and regarding purchase,
exchange, lease or value of real property, concerning Proposition 1 properties.
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 6:58 p.m. (Councilmember Allen did not attend the Executive Session.)
9. RECONVENE
a. Take action on Executive Session items, if necessary.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the
Interim City Manager and the City Attorney to execute all documents necessary to purchase the property located
in the 200 block of State Highway 75 North, Lots 2A and 2B of the OE Barrett Subdivision, in an amount not to
exceed $1.069 million, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager\]
The Council reconvened at 7:20 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to accept the counter offer of the Walker County Hospital
District to sell the Ella Smither property, parcels with Property IDs 57003, 57004, 57005, and 57006, for $2.25 million, authorize
the Interim City Manager and City Attorney to prepare and sign the Earnest Money contract, and schedule the first reading for
purchase of the property; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar, The City Attorney noted this was the
authorization to enter into the Earnest Money contract, not to approve the final sale. Councilmember Allen read a prepared
statement. Mayor Pro Tem Olson noted the item would result in perhaps as much as $800,000 to the benefit of the City, after
the sale of the existing police and fire buildings to be replaced. The motion was adopted, 6-1, Councilmember Allen voting
against. Item b was not considered.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:24 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary