Minutes - 02/03/2015
RD
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 3 DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 5:00 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_____________________________
WORK SESSION \[5:00 P.M.\] - Presentation and discussion proposed revisions to the Development Code to provide the
City Council with subdivision plat approval authority. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\]
Mr. Kulhavy addressed the current approval processes and discussed possible updates for the Development Code revision.
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 – Councilmember Andy Brauninger gave an invocation and Isabel Samuell of the YMCA led
the pledges.
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 20, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Consider the award of bid for BOT-TDCJ Sewer Extension Project construction (Project #11-10-27), second
reading. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
c. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply to the National Endowment for the Arts’ invitation to apply for
grant funding of $10,000.00, with a $10,000.00 match. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
Councilmember Brauninger asked to pull item c. The motion for items a and b was adopted unanimously, 9-0. (The BOT-
TDCJ Sewer Extension Project construction contract was awarded to Doughtie Construction, Inc.) Councilmember
Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to apply to the National Endowment for the Arts’ invitation to apply for
grant funding of $10,000.00, with a $10,000.00 match and was seconded by Councilmembers Johnson and Humphrey.
The motion was adopted, 8-1.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of Ordinance 2015-12,
updating Chapter 38, Article I, Section 38-8 Yard Waste and Heavy Trash of the City of Huntsville Code of
Ordinances, second reading. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-12, updating Chapter 38, Article I, Section 38-8 Yard Waste
and Heavy Trash of the City of Huntsville Code of Ordinances and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. Debra
Daugette spoke in opposition to the Ordinance. The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the award of bid for
Old Colony Road (OCR) V & VI Sewer Extension Project construction (Project #08-10-31 & 08-10-32), first reading.
\[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
(First reading, no action taken.)
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
into an agreement with Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong for professional engineering services for the Avenue M and
Normal Park Drive Waterline Replacement Projects - #14-11-06 and #14-11-07. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City
Engineer\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Goodwin-Lasiter-
Strong for professional engineering services for the Avenue M and Normal Park Drive Waterline Replacement Projects -
#14-11-06 and #14-11-07 and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a Utility Extension Request from
Davis Construction for a sanitary sewer line extension located at 3639 Daisy Lane. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the Utility Extension Request from Davis Construction for a sanitary sewer
line extension located at 3639 Daisy Lane and was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was adopted
unanimously, 9-0.
e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a Utility Extension Request from Don
Mathews for a water line extension located in the 500 block of Ryan’s Ferry Road. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Don Mathews spoke in support of the item, describing the area as historically underserved for housing. Mayor Woodward
moved the Council ask the City Manager meeting with the developer and work towards establishing a developer
agreement and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted unanimously. 9-0.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
Public Works Director Carol Reed updated the Council on the progress at the TRA plant.
6. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
a. Consider request from Windell Bailey and family to relocate a waterline located at 1103 Holly Springs Drive.
The Council determined the property owner was seeking to combine two lots and was being restricted from building over
the water line, which was not located in the easement by the original developer in the mid-1970s, and was accepted by
the City at that time. Councilmember Rodriquez suggested considering granting the requestor the cost of placing the
waterline back in the easement, and the requestor would pay any additional amount if it was decided to place the
waterline on the outer edge of the property instead. City Attorney Leonard Schneider suggested he, the City Manager,
and Mr. Kulhavy consider the value of the easement that would be needed if the waterline was relocated at the outer west
edge of the property. The Mayor noted the item was not posted for action at this meeting.
b. Consider a request from Spencer Copeland, President of Sam Houston State University Student Government
Association (SGA), to discuss with the Council various SGA initiatives.
Mr. Copeland noted parking issues on campus and that SGA was working on bike rental ideas with the University, and
asked for the City’s support in investigating the viability and establishment of bike lanes in the community, noting students
would also seek grant funding. Mr. Copeland noted other initiatives to involve students throughout the city.
Councilmembers expressed their appreciation and offered ideas to increase cooperation and involvement.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media 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 Woodward presented the following items:
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Several local entities including Huntsville Memorial Hospital are participating in National Go Red for Women Day, this
Friday, Feb. 6. Please encourage your workplace to wear red that day, and visit with local supporters at The Farmhouse
that day, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
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The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division, Walker County Proud Communities, the Texas Forest Service,
and the Walker County Master Gardeners invite everyone to the annual Tree Sale, to be held this Saturday, Feb. 7, from
7:30-11:30 a.m. at the Walker County Storm Shelter on Highway 75 North. Come early for the best selection!
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Ashley Hyter, the Veteran Service Liaison for Tri-County Services, is hosting a peer mentoring training from 12-4 p.m. on
February 7 at the Huntsville Public Library. Please call her at 936-521-6132 for more information.
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The Huntsville Public Library will be holding a silent book auction Friday, February 6 through Monday, February 10, during
normal library hours. The winning bids will be contacted the following Tuesday, February 11. Please contact Anne-
Frances Sparks at 936-291-5472 for additional information.
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District Forester Jordan Herrin of the local Texas Forest Service office has asked to pass along word about an upcoming
Invasive Species Workshop on February 28, in Huntsville from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Please call 295-5688 for more
information.
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The Parks and Leisure Department will again sponsor the Kids ‘Cue at the “Shotgun” Fred Pirkle BBQ events on February
26-28. Contact Penny Joiner at 294-5708 for more information.
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The Veterans Task Force of Montgomery, Walker, and Liberty Counties will be holding a Veteran’s Expo on March 17
from 9-2 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe, and is currently accepting vendor applications. Register
at Veteran’s Expo on eventbrite.com.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary