Minutes - 03/06/2012MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH 2012, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:OOPM.
The Council met in a workshop and regular session with the follow ing: _
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, James Fitch, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey,
Ronald Allen, Clyde Loll
COUNCii.n EMBERS- ABSENT: none
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OFFICERS PRESENT: Bit Baine. City Manaoer: Leonard Schneider. City Attorney. Lee Woodward. City Secretary
WORK SESSION [5:OOPM] •
The City Council will hold its annual meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission to review the status of the
Development Code and other issues on the horizon for the coming year. [Large conference room]
The Mayor closed the work session at 6:00 pm.
REGULAR SESSION [6:OOPM]
1. CALL TO ORDER [6:03PM]
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. /pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one, and indivisible.
Councilmember Montgomery gave the invocation and Girl Scouts Elizabeth Carrell and Peyton Pitts led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
a. Proclamation in honor of the Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary
b. Recognition of the annual Path to Citizenship program
c. Recognition of staff contributions during library expansion — the City Manager thanked the Library staff,
Director Matt Lumpkins, Project Manager Tom Weger, and Building Maintenance staff and crews who aided in the
library expansion project
d. Presentation of entries and awards for Sprite Sparks Basketball Court Art Contest — presentations were
made in the presence of Jennifer Amundsen attending on behalf of Sprite /Coca Cola - Houston to Honorable
Mention winners Palmira De La Rosa, Waylon Ruffin and Kent Albert, Edith Prieto and Tinesha Bates, and Ryan
Bradford, and third place winner Dee Everett, second place winner Kat Black, and first place winner Eloy
Samaniego, whose design will be painted in the center of the new court at Kate Barr Ross Park.
e. Recognition of FireWise designation at Elkins Lake — Asst. Fire Chief John Hobbs presented Elkins Lake
FireWise Board members Stacy Dennis, Debbie Ware, Liesa Hackett, Jared Karns of the Texas Forest Service
office in Conroe, and David Anderson of Walker County Emergency Management concerning Elkins Lake's
designation as the first so -named FireWise Community in the state.
f. Steve DuFrane, owner of Shawshank Disc Golf Course, and sponsor B. J. Moody, owner of Smoken Joe's,
thanked the sponsors and participants of the Ice Bowl disc golf winter tournament and presented $500 checks from
the proceeds to Lou Devore on behalf of the Good Shepherd Mission and Marjolein Lemon of the Rita B. Huff
Animal Shelter.
g. The Mayor thanked Kendall Scudder and the SHSU students who participated in last Saturday's All Paws In event.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
a. Related to any matter not on the agenda — 2 minutes per speaker
b. Related to any matter on the agenda — 5 minutes per speaker
- Kenneth Callahan spoke of the need for transportation for residents of Parkview Place.
- Robert Conner spoke of the need for transportation for the community.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
(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 Regular Session held on February 21, 2012. [Lee Woodward, City
Secretary]
b. Approve Ordinance 2012 -18, amending Chapter 12 "Buildings and Building Regulations" of the Code of
Ordinances through the adoption of the 2009 Edition of the International Energy Conservation Code., 2nd
reading. [Mike Roempke, Building Official]
c. Approve Ordinance 2012 -19, amending the budget for FY11 -12. [Winston Duke, Finance Director]
d. Approve the document management project expansion as provided for in the FY11 -12 budget in the amount
of $50,899.59 for software and $21,300 for equipment. [Chris Vasquez, IT Manager]
e. Authorize the City Manager to approve purchases of police vehicle equipment to include installation from
Fleet Safety, Kustom Signal, Safety Vision, Design Graphics, and Motorola. [Billie Smith, Procurement
Manager]
f. Approve Ordinance 2012 -15 to add seats for three additional members to the Huntsville Beautification
Advisory Committee, 2nd reading. [Mayor Woodward]
Councilmember Montoomery made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda and was seconded by
Councilmember Olson.
Councilmember Johnson had a slight correction to the minutes. Councilmember Montgomery asked how long
police vehicles were typically kept and Billie Smith said six years. Councilmember Emmett asked Mike Roempke,
concerning item b, if the state had required the City adopt the Code and Mr. Roempke confirmed it was.
Councilmember Humphrey asked about the material in police vehicles being replaced and Mrs. Smith said two
vehicles were fleet additions and the others required new items due to changes in equipment to be used or
updated.
The motion passed unanimously. 9 -0.
C. T/� TUT- v n n ND .
ri-i vV' � -� nt7rCIVVH
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2012 -20, to update the City Council
Rules of Procedure, l5Y reading. [Mayor Woodward, Councilmembers Olson and Humphrey]
New updates were discussed briefly. Councilmember Johnson said he felt having two Councilmembers required
to place an item on the agenda would be a timesaving measure. Councilmember Montgomery expressed some
concern. Councilmember Johnson said he did not feel strongly about the change but thought it a logical aid in
handling the City's business. Councilmember Fitch said he felt each Councilmember was elected individually and
should be able to bring things to the agenda individually.
b. Presentation, discussion and possible action to approve Ordinance 2012 -21 to deny the Entergy rate increase, lst
reading. [Leonard Schneider, City Attorney]
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2012 -17 to change the name of the City of
Huntsville Veterans Affairs Advisory Board to the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board.
[Mayor Woodward]
Councilmember Fitch made a motion to approve the Resolution and was seconded by Councilmember Loll. The
motion passed unanimously. 9 -0.
d. Presentation and discussion of private water and wastewater service line issues. [Carol Reed, Director of
Public Utilities]
Ms. Reed discussed the City's policy and expenses for issues and possible alternatives. Councilmember Emmett
asked her to explain what citizens should do in the case of a sewer backup. He was told the City should be called
first and would come out at any time to run the line from the manhole -at no expense to the citizen, -after which a
plumber should be called if the blockage is not cleared. Councilmember Emmett confirmed that a citizen could not
make a street cut and install a new tap but would be responsible for those expenses if the blockage was in their
area of responsibility.
In response to a question, Ms. Reed told Councilmember Allen she felt homeowner's lines were not City
infrastructure. Councilmember Allen discussed a particular homeowner's issue and they found they had different
recollections of where the blockage had been located. Councilmember Emmett said he felt it unfair for
homeowners to be responsible for charges between their property and the City's area of responsibility. The City
Attorney addressed which items could be handled by City policy. Councilmember Loll suggested the policy could
be reviewed. Councilmember Humphrey asked about regulations involving penalties but Ms. Reed said she was
only familiar with water wasting issues.
Mr. Baine said much was caused by the age of the infrastructure and that the City was not liable for cleaning
issues in citizens' homes. He pointed out that increased City expenses would be reflected in rates to users.
7. MAYOR /CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER REPORT
a. Presentation, discussion and possible action to discuss parks and recreational activities. [Standing item
on first agenda of each month.]
Matt Lumpkins, Director of Community Services, offered an overview of the seven divisions of his area, with fifty -
two employees working with TDCJ work crews, maintaining all parks and City property, responding to all Building
Maintenance issues, working with four City Boards and local sports leagues utilizing City fields, aiding several non-
profit organizations receiving funding from the City, handling a fleet of over 250 vehicles and equipment, running
the library, and operating the Aquatic Center and recreational programming. The Mayor and Council thanked Mr.
Lumpkins and expressed appreciation for all the additional services his crews provide.
b. Annual report from the Personnel Committee. [Councilmember Montgomery]
Councilmember Montgomery discussed items of action in the last year, including policy drafts and updates and
consultations with the HR Consultant Pauline Drewry. She noted the funded pension rate had increased from 57%
to 85 %, for which she thanked Winston Duke and Bill Baine, and also for the almost $2 million in trust for retirees.
Councilmember Montgomery listed the Committee's discussion items ongoing and topics from the City Manager.
She noted the challenge of finding ways to curtail increasing healthcare costs. The Mayor thanked her.
Councilmember Olson discussed the major increase in medical insurance expenditures.
c. City Manager's Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic
development.
Mr. Baine noted March 22 was the bid closing for the replacement well at Palm Street and that the TRA and
Highway 19 construction projects were progressing. Mr. Baine said the Council would have to consider
subsidizing transportation. He discussed the healthcare costs and the need for improvement within the City,
due to a projected 17% increase annually. He mentioned research being done on the erosion of the tipping
floor. Mr. Baine thanked Sprite for their funds for the new basketball court and for the staff participation at last
week's Trade Expo. He discussed the "mule" purchased for grass fires which had been on display prior to the
meeting. Mr. Baine thanked the Council for the tone of the meeting and the individuals they had honored.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Councilmember Allen read a short letter from an out of town businessperson who had been named as attending an
economic development meeting with which he had no involvement. Councilmember Olson commented on "paranoia"
going around the community. -
9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED T O MATTERS O N THE AGENDA
nere were no media inquiries.
10. 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.)
The Mayor congratulated the Hornet & Lady Hornet basketball and swim teams on their successful seasons. He
announced the City of Huntsville Beautification Advisory Committee's annual golf tournament to raise money for
beautification projects was held Friday, February 24 at Raven Nest, noting the first place and third place teams were
from TDCJ Region 1 and the second place team was Faust Distribution of Trinity, and thanking all sponsors and
participants. Mayor Woodward thanked recent retiree Darrell Doss for his over 32 years of service to the City's fleet
and congratulated Teresa Ruiz, LULAC's Educator of the Year, and the City's own Linda Pease and Tamara Chasteen,
who received LULAC's Special Recognition and Citizen of the Year Awards, respectively.
Sadness at the passing of K9 Quintus was also expressed, with appreciation to Dr. Gerry Etheridge, Dr. Phillip DuVall,
and the staffs_ of the Huntsville Pet Clinic and Magnolia Kennels for assistance during Quintus' career. Mayor
Woodward reminded all of the 3rd grade annual Heritage tours around town on March 7 and 8, the Wine Down, Shop
Small event on Thursday, April 19 from 6 -9pm at businesses around the Square, Spring Clean downtown on The
Square on Saturday, April 28, from 9 -2, the Chick -Fil -A LeaderCast event at SHSU on May 4, Main Street's call for
growers for the Farmers Market to begin May 5, and Tourism Week May 5 -13.
Mayor Woodward thanked Katie Boone of Spring for choosing Huntsville for her school report and announced
Councilmember Allen's birthday on March 10. Those assembled sang Happy Birthday to him. Councilmember Emmett
thanked the Huntsville Police Department for answering his questions on procedures and had been very helpful.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adiourned the meetino at 8:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secret