Minutes - 02/17/2015
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 17 DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015, 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 – Councilmember Lydia Montgomery gave an invocation and Coleman Dougherty of the YMCA
led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Chamber of Commerce Huntsville Leadership Institute (HLI) presentation of Huntsville Proud program
- Career and Technical Education Awareness Month proclamation for HISD
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 February 3, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Consider accepting funding from the Office of the Attorney General for $12,685.00, and designate the City
Manager as the Authorized Representative. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
c. Consider the purchase of twenty-three radio packages for the Huntsville Police Department. \[Dr. Sherry
McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
d. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2016 Victims’ Service Coordinator Grant for $58,472.40,
plus $14,618.10 as a cash match, and adopt Resolution 2015-05 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben,
Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
e. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for a 2015 Texas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
from the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $344,250.00, plus $60,750 in matching funds, and
adopt Resolution 2015-06 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
f. Consider the award of bid for Old Colony Road (OCR) V & VI Sewer Extension Project construction (Projects #08-
10-31 & 08-10-32), second reading. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
g. Consider adoption of Ordinance 2015-14 to amend the budget for FY 14-15 and amend the Capital Improvement
Projects budget. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
Councilmember Allen asked to pull item 4g and Councilmember Brauninger asked to pull item 4e. The motion for the
other items was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to apply for a 2015 Texas Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) from the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $344,250.00, plus $60,750 in matching funds,
and adopt Resolution 2015-06 in support of same and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion for the
other items was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-14 to amend the budget for FY 14-15 and amend the Capital
Improvement Projects budget and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was adopted, 8-1.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2015-15,
allowing the City Manager to approve amendments to the City’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Policy
Manual after notice is given to the City Council, first reading. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager, and Julie O’Connell,
Human Resources Director\]
(First reading; no action taken.) The City Manager noted the breadth of the Manual and its need for regular updating, as
well as the current requirement for two readings by the City Council to make changes. Councilmember Allen expressed
his feeling that the ordinance needed further review and discussion and Councilmember Brauninger suggested the
Council Personnel Committee do so. City Manager Matt Benoit readily agreed to amend the ordinance to read “business
days,” as had been his intent.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to sign an
agreement with PGAL Architects to conduct space needs assessments and cost estimating for four City
facilities, for an amount not to exceed $70,000.00. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to sign an agreement with PGAL Architects to conduct
space needs assessments and cost estimating for four City facilities, for an amount not to exceed $70,000.00 and was
seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. Councilmember Brauninger moved to amend the motion to limit the study to
the $40,000 portion and was seconded by Councilmember Allen. Councilmember Olson moved a request for a Point of
Order. The amended motion was lost, 4-5. The main motion was adopted, 7-2.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on nominations of Joe Soliz and Pat Graham to
the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nominations. The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
b. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
There was no report.
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.
Hear from John Strickland on economic development.
After posting, Mr. Strickland stated he had received the discussion he sought and did not appear.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
Marissa Nunez of The Huntsville Item asked when potential renovations discussed in item 5b would be expected. Mr. Benoit
said it could possibly be in 2018-2019 when debt was retired, but at this point the item was for study and not construction
decisions. The Mayor agreed, stressing the need to be methodical and inform the public. Ms. Nunez also asked if any land
had been identified for a new complex and the Mayor assured her there had not, that it would be a future consideration.
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 Woodward presented the following items:
-
The City’s Parks & Leisure Dept. will again be hosting the Kids ‘Cue at this year’s “Shotgun” Fred Pirkle BBQ event
coming up on Feb. 26-28. Contact Penny Joiner at 294-5708 for more info.
-
The Mary Laura Gibbs quilt exhibit is on display at the Wynne Home Arts Center through April 15.
-
Authors with the National Book Awards will be coming to SHSU this March. Contact Amanda Nowlin-O’Banion at
294-4109 for more information on public and school events.
-
The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division, in cooperation with a number of local businesses and
service groups, is hosting the annual Trash Bash on Saturday, March 7. See the flyer on the City web site or contact
Esther Herklotz at 294-5724 for more information.
-
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. Veterans can receive legal and employment aid
and connect with area employers.
-
HPD is accepting applications for the 2015 Citizen’s Police Academy through March 23. Contact Officers Jenkins or
Posey at 291-5480 for information and applications.
-
The Senior Center is hosting a Medicare Fraud Awareness luncheon on March 25 at 11 a.m. Call 295-6151 for more
information.
-
The Huntsville Public Library & the SHSU Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP) Center will present a free five-week
Citizenship Preparation Course on Thursdays in April from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., in the Huntsville Public Library
Community Room. Please contact Mary Kokot, at 936-291-5912 to sign up.
-
March 2 Texas Independence and Sam Houston’s Birthday events are numerous, check the City’s web site for more
information.
-
Please take a look at the new JustServe.org web page for Huntsville, a service that links volunteers with projects
sponsored by humanitarian and governmental agencies, churches, and civic groups. Call 295-6920 for more
information.
Councilmember Humphrey announced SGA President Spencer Copeland had told her the SHSU Board of Regents would be
considering the crosswalks item the City Council had approved recently. She also encouraged the public to participate in the
General Sam Houston Folk Festival May 1-3, particularly as costumed characters. Councilmember Emmett recognizedOscar-
nominated director Rick Linklater and expressed support. He also announced that a group “using veiled threats” had
discouraged Container Solutions, Inc. to abandon their plan to move their business to Huntsville.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 - personnel
matters to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, and duties, concerning City Attorney
Leonard Schneider. \[Councilmember Allen\]
b. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 – personnel
matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public
officer or employee, concerning City Secretary Lee Woodward. \[Mayor Woodward\]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 7:20 p.m.
11. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items handled in Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 10:08 p.m. No action was taken.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 10:09 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary