Minutes - 05/05/2015
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 5DAY OF MAY 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 (arrived at
4:37 p.m.), Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey (arrived at 4:59 p.m.), Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Lee Woodward, City Secretary______________________________
WORKSHOP \[4:30 P.M.\] – The City Council will discuss and review the Town Creek drainage project. \[Matt Benoit,
City Manager\]
Tom Ramsey, PE, Gary Struzick, PE, CFM, Mike McClung, PE, of Klotz & Associates presented an engineering assessment
of the Town Creek Drainage Project. City Manager Matt Benoit and Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources, reviewed the budget and a possible timeline.
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 – Mayor Woodward led a moment of silence in remembrance of Coach Joe Clements,
and Stephen Heuszler of the YMCA led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- New Tourism animation for Sam Houston Statue
- Presentation of 2015 Citizenship Class participants and SHSU student assistants
- Stroke Awareness and Prevention Proclamation
- National Tourism Week Proclamation
- Municipal Clerks Week Proclamation
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 April 21, 2015 and the Special Sessions on April
23 and 28, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Consider accepting an award of $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts for an arts grant. \[Dr.
Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
c. Consider approving a tax sale bid for trust properties in Elkins Lake - Section 3A, Block 32, Lot 66 and Lot
67, as recommended by Walker County Appraisal District. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. The motion was adopted, 9 - 0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the purchase of janitorial
services for various City Buildings – Service Center Complex, City Hall, Library, Sam Houston Visitor
Center, Police Department, Main Street, Wynne Home, Solid Waste Office and floor care at the plants.
\[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve purchase of janitorial services for various City Buildings – Service
Center Complex, City Hall, Library, Sam Houston Visitor Center, Police Department, Main Street, Wynne Home,
Solid Waste Office and floor care at the plants; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The
motion was adopted, 9 – 0.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to Consider award of the
bid for the Town Creek Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project Construction – Phase I & II (Project #12-11-
04), first reading. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
First reading, no action taken.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to amend the Klotz and Associates’ Phase
I contract for the Town Creek Drainage Project to include an additional $360,530.78 for Phase II, which
includes the design, engineering, and construction of the project, and to adopt Ordinance 2015-21 to
amend the budget for the same, second reading. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
Councilmember Olson moved to amend the Klotz and Associates’ Phase I contract for the Town Creek Drainage
Project to include an additional $360,530.78 for Phase II, which includes the design, engineering, and construction
of the project, and to adopt Ordinance 2015-21 to amend the budget for the same. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Humphrey.
George Russell and Bruce Moore spoke in opposition. Ken Holland spoke in favor of the issue.
The motion was adopted, 9 – 0.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on nominations for a Council committee to
review City boards, commissions, and committees, as provided for in 2015 Strategic Plan Goal 5, Objective
1. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nominations of Councilmembers Humphrey, Brauninger, and Montgomery. The
motion was unanimously adopted.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on nomination of Ashley Taylor to the City
of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved his nomination of Ashley Taylor. The motion was unanimously adopted.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to appoint an interim Municipal Court
prosecutor for Municipal Court and authorize staff to conduct a process for a municipal court prosecutor.
\[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
City Attorney Leonard Schneider explained that the current Municipal Court Prosecutor had left the position.
d. EXECUTIVE SESSION - The City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas
Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.074 – personnel matters regarding the appointment,
employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee to
discuss the position of the Municipal Court prosecutor. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 7:04 p.m.
e. RECONVENE - Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 7:19 p.m. Councilmember Olson moved to hire the firm of Haney Moorman as Interim
City Municipal Court Prosecutor; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was
adopted 8 – 1, with Councilmember Emmett voting against.
f. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic
development.
The City Manager had 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.
a. Consider and discuss Citizen Participation Request from Charles Smither regarding the proposed new
Development Code.
The Mayor permitted Walter Boyd, Sr. to speak on public events.
Charles Smither, Jr. urged the Council to closely review the proposed revisions to the Development Code.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media 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 Woodward presented the following items:
-
Tickets are still available for Wine Down, Shop Small on the Square on Thursday, May 7 from 5-9 p.m. Call the
Main Street office at 291-5920.
-
The City is calling for photos for this year’s calendar. Please see the most recent issues of our digital newsletter
This Week in Huntsville, or contact us at 936-291-5403.
-
The Promoting Our Positives committee in support of HISD has kicked off their Feel the Sting Hornet Flag
campaign. Please contact the Chamber of Commerce or the City Secretary to order flags to fly downtown or at
your home, to show your support of our school district and its importance in our community.
-
Next week is National Police Week
-
The Famous Haydell Sisters coming up at Eclectic Studio Café and the Stars and Stripes Forever with Mary Anne
Burkhalter at the Library.
Councilmember Rodriquez commended the Public Works Department and HPD for their great work clearing issues in
the city after the recent storms. Councilmember Humphrey reminded everyone that graduation would be held in town
this week and to be aware of out-of-town visitors. She also thanked the Mayor and Mary Allen-Keating for their hard
work at the General Sam Houston Folk Festival this weekend. Councilmember Olson echoed the praise of City crews
and HPD during recent extreme weather events. Councilmember Brauninger thanked Kimm Thomas for her
cooperation with the University in tourism initiatives. Councilmember Johnson encouraged everyone to attend
Leadercast.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.
Clasina Watson, Deputy City Secretary