Minutes - 08/04/2015
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 4 DAY OF AUGUST 2015, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:00 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,
Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Joe Emmett
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary
WORKSHOP \[4:00 P.M.\] – Consideration and discussion of Section 4a & 4b Economic Development sales tax, potential
uses, and possible ballot wording.. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
The City Manager and City Attorney presented the differences in 4A and 4B development criteria and discussed project options.
(Councilmember Allen had to leave the workshop from 4:47-5:37 and returned for the Council meeting.) The work session
concluded at 5:37 p.m.
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 Johnson gave an invocation and Tatyana Antwine from the Boys & Girls Club
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 July 21, 2015 and the Special Session on July 28, 2015.
\[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2015-37 calling the November 3, 2015 municipal general election for the purpose of electing the
Mayor at-large and four (4) Councilmembers, one from each City ward, single reading required. \[Lee Woodward,
City Secretary\]
c. Approve the 2015 Joint Election Agreement and Election Services Contract with Walker County for the November
3, 2015 election. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to apply for a Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR),
and adopt Resolution 2015-14 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
e. Adopt Ordinance 2015-34, changing the intersection traffic control from a 2-Way STOP to a 4-Way STOP at the
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intersection of 10 Street and Avenue N, second reading. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
f. Adopt Ordinance 2015-36, changing the intersection traffic control from a 2-Way STOP to a 4-Way STOP at the
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intersection of 14 Street and University Avenue, second reading. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
g. Approve purchase of Construction Roll-Off Containers for the Solid Waste Division. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public
Works\]
h. Authorize the use of TexasTERM by the City’s Investment Officer and authorize the City Manager to sign the
Participation Agreement. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmembers
Humphrey and Johnson. Councilmember Allen pulled items e and f for separate consideration. The motion was adopted
unanimously, 8-0.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-34, changing the intersection traffic control from a 2-Way
STOP to a 4-Way STOP at the intersection of 10th Street and Avenue N, the motion was seconded by Councilmembers
Montgomery and Johnson. The motion was adopted, 5-3, Councilmembers Allen, Brauninger, and Rodriquez.
Councilmember Olson moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-36, changing the intersection traffic control from a 2-Way STOP to
a 4-Way STOP at the intersection of 14th Street and University Avenue, the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 5-3, Councilmembers Allen, Brauninger, and Rodriquez.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance 2015-35 amending
the City of Huntsville, Texas Code of Ordinances, specifically Chapter 48 “Vehicles for Hire”; making other
provisions and findings thereto; and declaring an effective date, second reading. \[Assistant Chief of Police Darryle
Slaven, Department of Public Safety\]
Mayor Woodward welcomed Huntsville Unit Warden Jones and thanked him and his staff for all they for and as part of the
community. Councilmember Montgomery moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-35 amending the City of Huntsville, Texas Code
of Ordinances, specifically Chapter 48 “Vehicles for Hire”; making other provisions and findings thereto; and declaring an
effective date; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. Dr. Ed Davis, Bart Davis, and Bill Kleiber spoke in
opposition to the ordinance, citing concerns over the local economy and asking the Council to postpone its vote. Kathy
Gizelli of Greyhound Bus and Warden Jones addressed comments made. Councilmember Olson moved to postpone
indefinitely, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion to postpone indefinitely was adopted, 7-1,
Councilmember Allen voting against.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider approval of announcing the City
Council’s intention to adopt a maximum property tax rate of $0.4106 per $100 valuation for the City’s 2015 – 2016
Fiscal Year (Tax Year 2015).
Councilmember Olson moved to place a proposal to adopt a property tax rate of $0.4106 per $100 valuation for the 2015-
2016 Fiscal Year (Tax Year 2015) on the agenda of the September 15, 2015 Council meeting; the motion was seconded by
Councilmembers Montgomery and Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
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.
No requests were received by noon on July 28, 2015.
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.)
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Feel the Sting! Day will be August 28, the date of the Hornets first game this fall. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at
295-8113 to order a flag for your home or business, or to fly downtown!
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University Heights Baptist Church’s Joy Ministry is holding a Healthy Habits for Healthy Families Back to School Bash,
along with United Way of the Piney Woods, & Walker County PATH. This symposium and resource fair will be from 9-4 on
Saturday, August 15, at University Heights Baptist Church on Sycamore, and will offer free lunch, child care, and door
prizes.
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The library is hosting a “Beginner’s Guide to Online Privacy” on Thursday, August 27, from 4-5 p.m., with students from the
SHSU Student Net Alliance. Reserve your seat by calling 291-5471.
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HR Director Julie O’Connell’s birthday is Monday!
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. The City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 – consultation with counsel on legal matters concerning the log cabin on the Square and Section 551.072
– deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, concerning the log cabin on the
Square. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 7:23 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 7:46 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary