Minutes - 09/15/2015
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 15 DAY OF SEPTEMBER 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 – City Secretary Woodward gave the Constitution Week invocation from the Mary Martin Elmore
Scott Chapter of DAR and Kristel Cababasay from the YMCA led the pledges.
3. PUBLIC HEARING - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive citizen input regarding the proposed Fiscal Year
2015-2016 Budget; Second Public Hearing.
Mayor Woodward opened the hearing at 6:04 p.m. There were no public comments. Mayor Woodward closed the hearing at 6:05
p.m.
The Mayor welcomed Lisa Foxworth, General Manager, of the new Buffalo Wild Wings, and she encouraged the public to come
visit, as they will open publicly on September 21.
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 September 1, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to accept the 2015
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve the renewal of the Microsoft enterprise
software agreement for a period of three (3) years in the amount of $158,876.70. \[Chris Vasquez, IT Director\]
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to accept a 2015 Texas
Community Development Block Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $344,250, plus
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$60,750 in matching funds for water line replacement along 11 Street from University Avenue to Avenue G. \[Dr.
Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to award the
construction contract to T-gray Utility & Rehabilitation Company for the construction of Drainage Improvements
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Project on 9 Street near Avenue H (Project No. 12-11-07) in the amount of $61,747.50. \[Y.S. Ram Ramachandra,
Engineer\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve the TXDOT approved way-finding signage
location plan and direct Staff to proceed with bidding the project. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve the TXDOT-approved way-finding signage location plan and direct Staff to
proceed with bidding the project; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 8-1,
Councilmember Allen voting against.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, consideration, and action with respect to an "Ordinance Authorizing the
Issuance of City of Huntsville, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2015;
Authorizing the Levy of an Ad Valorem Tax and the Pledge of Certain Net Revenues in Support of the Certificates;
Approving and Official Statement and a Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement; Awarding the Sale of Certificates; and
Authorizing Other Matters Related to the Issuance of the Certificates, First and Final Reading; and, adoption of
Resolution 2015-42 to issue Series 2015 Certificates of Obligation. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to approve Ordinance 2015-42 authorizing the issuance of City of Huntsville, Texas
Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2015, authorizing the levy of an ad valorem tax and the
pledge of certain net revenues in support of the Certificates, approving an Official Statement and a Paying Agent/Registrar
Agreement, awarding the sale of Certificates, and authorizing other matters related to the issuance of the Certificates; the
motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. (Single reading required per City Charter Section 4.12.) Joe Morrow of
FirstSouthwest discussed the City’s investor ratings and its positive effects on the issue. The motion was adopted
unanimously, 9-0.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a Decision Package for the 2015-16
Budget for proposed funding sources and levels of various employee benefits and include the Decision Package in
the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director, Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve a Decision Package for the 2015-16 Budget for proposed funding sources and levels
of various employee benefits and include the Decision Package in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget; the motion was
seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 5-4, Councilmembers Allen, Brauninger, Emmett, and
Rodriquez voting against.
b. Presentation, discussion, public comment, and possible action to move to adopt Ordinance 2015-43 adopting the
Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget with all policies, fees, rates, and provisions as references therein (record vote). \[Steve
Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-43 adopting the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget with all policies,
fees, rates, and provisions as references therein; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was
adopted, 7-2, Councilmembers Allen and Brauninger voting against.
c. Presentation, discussion, public comment, and possible action to move to ratify the increased property tax revenues
reflected in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget as adopted. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Councilmember Olson moved to ratify the increased property tax revenues reflected in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget as
adopted; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Allen
voting against.
d. Presentation, discussion, public comment, and possible action on Ordinance 2015-44, adopting the Fiscal Year 2015-
2016 tax rates (passage of budget required to vote on this item) (record vote). \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Fiscal Year 2015-2016 tax rates; the motion was
Councilmember Montgomery moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-44, adopting the
seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted unanimously, 7-2, Councilmembers Allen and Brauninger
voting against.
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.
No requests were received by noon on September 8, 2015.
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.)
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The Senior Center’s annual fundraiser will be held on Sept. 24 at the Veterans Conference Center. Call 295-6151 for
tickets and information.
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September is Library Card Month! The coolest of the cool kids carry cards from the Huntsville Public Library – visit the
library and get yours today!
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Please make plans to attend a session of the HISD Education Summit September 28 or 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Huntsville
High School Commons area or on September 29 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Support & Learning Center on the Mance
Park Middle School campus to help our community come together and provide valuable input about education.
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Walker County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 4 Annual Family Health & Wellness Fair on September 22 at the
Walker County Storm Shelter from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Free Admission.
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September is National Preparedness Month: Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today! Check
FEMA.gov to find out more!
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Join us at the Wynne Home on Thursday evening from 4-7 pm for the opening reception of “Liberties”, a show of work
from area artists. The show runs through January 9, and the No Foolin’ String Band will be performing this Thursday and
Saturday evenings.
Councilmember Humphrey congratulated the SHSU Animation Department for winning an award on the “Building the Legend” video
they created on the Sam Houston Statue for the City’s Visitors Center. She also urged the public to seek the facts and consider the
information sources from which they get news.
10. 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 Project Abby and Section 551.072 – deliberation
regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, concerning Project Abby. \[Leonard Schneider, City
Attorney\]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 6:52 p.m.
11. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 7:21 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary