Minutes - 04/17/2018
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 17 th DAY OF APRIL 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 (arrived at 5:13 p.m.), Keith D. Olson, Clyde D. Loll
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Leonard Schneider, City
Attorney
WORKSHOP \[5:00 p.m.\] – The City Council will discuss the possible outsourcing of Transfer Station operations.
Director of Public Works Daryl Uptmore and Interim City Manager Aron Kulhavy shared the proposal and addressed Council inquiries.
WORK SESSION \[5:45 P.M.\] – The City Council will receive a communications update in relation to the City Council Strategic
Plan.
City Secretary Lee Woodward and Deputy City Secretary Brenda Poe reviewed for the Council the progress concerning the
Communications item.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 p.m.\]
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
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.
Mayor Brauninger asked all to share a moment of silence in remembrance of the recent passing of former Councilmember
Andrew Martinez and Treasure Matson and David Guerrero led the pledges.
PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
- Presentation to the City by former Councilmember Dr. Wayne Barrett
- Fair Housing Month proclamation
- Safe Digging Month proclamation
1. PUBLIC HEARING – The City Council will hear comments on consideration to adopt Ordinance 2018-16, to change the
Development District Classification of Sections 1 and 2 of Brookview Subdivision, located in the 1000 Block of State
Highway 75 North, from Management to Neighborhood Conservation.
The Mayor opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. Interim City Planner Janet Ridley outlined the proposal for the rezoning, noting
a majority of homeowners in support of the change and unanimous approval of the Planning Commission. Debra Durda offered
public comment. The Mayor closed the public hearing at 6:26 p.m.
2. 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 April 3. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Approve Mayor’s nomination Fire Chief Greg Mathis to an open position on the Walker County Public Safety
Communications Center Executive Board. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
c. Authorize the Interim City Manager to award the construction contract for the construction of 2016 Bond Proposition
3 – a new 2.5-million-gallon elevated storage tank at the Fire Station No. 1 site and modifications to the existing 2-
million-gallon elevated storage tank – Project No. 17-10-01.1, second reading. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City
Engineer\]
d. Authorize the Interim City Manager to approve the purchase of tires from American Tire Distributors as a primary
vendor, and from Southern Tire Mart as secondary vendor, utilizing terms established by the Buy Board Cooperative.
\[Daryl Uptmore, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Humphrey pulled item c. Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve consent agenda items a, b, and d;
the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was approved, 9-0. Councilmember Davidhizar moved to
authorize the Interim City manager to award the construction contract to Landmark Structures I, LP, in the amount of
$4,144,000, contingent upon funds becoming available on or about June 5, 2018, from the 2018 Water and Sewer Revenue
Bonds, for 2016 Bond Proposition 3 – a new 2.5-million-gallon elevated storage tank at the Fire Station No. 1 site and
modifications to the existing 2-million-gallon elevated storage tank – Project No. 17-10-01.1. The motion was seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Olson and Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
3. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, public comments, and possible action to consider authorizing the Interim City Manager
to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for an amount not to exceed
$458,475, including matching funds not to exceed $314,957, and adopting Resolution 2018-10. \[Chief Kevin
Lunsford, Director of Public Safety; Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
Councilmember Loll moved to authorize the Interim City Manager to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency
Response (SAFER) grant for $458,475, including matching funds of $314,957, and adopt Resolution 2018-10; the motion
was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was approved, 9-0.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion, public comments, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance
2018-15 to suspend the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy, first
reading. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
First reading, no action taken.
c. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion, public comments, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance
2018-16, to change the Development District Classification of Sections 1 and 2 of Brookview Subdivision, located
in the 1000 Block of State Highway 75 North, from Management to Neighborhood Conservation, first reading. \[Janet
Ridley, Interim City Planner\]
First reading, no action taken. Mayor Brauninger and Mr. Kulhavy thanked Mrs. Ridley for her expanded role since the
naming of the Interim City Manager.
d. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion, public comments, and possible action to consider authorizing the
Interim City Manager to award the construction contract for the construction of 2016 Bond Proposition 3 – A. J.
Brown Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Rehabilitation Project – Project No. 17-01-02.1, first reading. \[Y. S.
“Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
First reading, no action taken.
4. 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.
a. Hear a request from Sarah Countryman on animal advocacy.
Ms. Countryman was not present.
5. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no inquiries.
6. 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 spoke about attending the Lone Star Legislative Symposium recently in Nacogdoches, including Gov. Abbott’s
presentation.
Mayor Pro Tem Olson announced thatLiesa Hackett, a long-time City employee, was chosen by Governor Greg Abbott to sit on
the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Council. She is a U.S. Army veteran who is very active in various
charity events in the community and is an asset to the City.
Councilmember Humphrey shared that Relay for Life has long been an annual occurrence in Huntsville, but an organized event
will not be held here this year. Laura Green at the Chamber of Commerce and her husband Glen created the Walker County
Walkers and have teamed up with the Conroe Relay being held on Friday, May 4, to represent Huntsville well! Wiesner, All-
Temp, H-E-B, Huntsville Rental Center, Learning Rx, McGilberry Mechanical, Northside Baptist Church, Cyclone Graffix, and
Cork & Canvas are already on board to make their booth amazing. To co-sponsor, donate, or join them to walk, call Laura at
936-295-8113.
Councilmember Davidhizar encouraged citizens to explore all the unique shops in downtown Huntsville and taste some of the
best wine from across the Lone Star State at Wine Down, Shop Small on May 3, from 5-9 p.m., for an unforgettably fun evening.
Tickets are available now from participating downtown merchants for $25.
Councilmember Emmett announced the Huntsville Police Department will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Day from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th, at Huntsville High School. Officers will be collecting and safely disposing of the
medication in the front parking lot of the school. HPD Officer Ryann Kaaa-Bauer said citizens just need to drop off the medicine
- there are no forms to fill out.
Councilmember Loll said the National Fire Protection Association and State Farm Insurance awarded the City of Huntsville $500
in support of the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. A picnic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Fire
Station #2, next to Taco Bell, in celebration of the day. There will be free hot dogs and refreshments during the event.
Councilmember Rodriquez said HPD is challenging the community to participate in Denim Day on April 25, in observance of
Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Join City employees to help put an end to misunderstandings about the causes and victims
of sexual violence.
Councilmember McCaffety noted SHSU was leading the Southland Conference after their weekend win over SFA. The Mayor
announced that he, Councilmember Rodriquez, their spouses, and many others attended the first local Senior Senior Prom at
the high school recently, hosted by the HHS National Honor Society.
7. 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 for a police and/or fire station.
b. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.087 and 551.071
deliberation regarding economic development negotiation concerning project Carve. \[Interim City Manager Aron
Kulhavy\]
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 6:57 p.m.
8. RECONVENE
a. Take action on Executive Session items, if necessary.
b. 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.
\[Aron Kulhavy, Interim City Manager\]
c. 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 ID 13951,
and adopt Ordinance 2018-13 to approve the related budget amendment, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Interim City
Manager\]
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to rescind the offer of $2.25 million to the Walker
County Hospital District for property in Walker County
The Council reconvened at 7:23 p.m. There was no action for Items a or b. In reference to item c, Mr. Kulhavy noted the
amount was $998,000. With respect to item d, Councilmember Allen moved to rescind the offer of $2.25 million to the Walker
County Hospital District in Walker County, Texas, described by property IDs 30203, 30204, 57005, and 57006; the motion
was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Emmett voting against.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:26 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary