Minutes - 12/01/2015
ST
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 1 DAY OF DECEMBER 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, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Tish Humphrey
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.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Brauninger gave an invocation and Ryah Abramski from the YMCA led the
2.
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 November 17, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to approve a request from the Walker County Historical Commission to place a
Historical Marker in Oakwood Cemetery for the Huntsville Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1867. \[Matt Benoit, City
Manager\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
Councilmember Allen pulled item b. The minutes were adopted unanimously, 8-0. Councilmember Montgomery moved to
approve a request from the Walker County Historical Commission to place a Historical Marker in Oakwood Cemetery for
the Huntsville Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1867; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem
Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2016-09, authorizing the City
Manager to award the construction contract for Avenue M and Normal Park Drive Waterline Replacement Project
Construction (Nos. 14-11-06 & 14-11-07), and adopt Ordinance 2016-05 for the associated budget amendment,
second reading. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt Resolution 2016-09, authorizing the City Manager to award the construction
contract for Avenue M and Normal Park Drive Waterline Replacement Project Construction (Nos. 14-11-06 & 14-11-07),
and adopt Ordinance 2016-05 for the associated budget amendment, the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2016-18,
amending the City of Huntsville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14 “Business Regulations” by amending Article II
“Food and Food Service Establishments,” first reading. \[Mike Roempke, Building Official\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to waive the second reading, per the 4.12 of the City Charter, the motion was seconded by
Councilmember Johnson. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt Ordinance
2016-18, amending the City of Huntsville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14 “Business Regulations” by amending Article II
“Food and Food Service Establishments,” the motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was
unanimously adopted, 8-0.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on nominations for the City Council 2016
representative and alternate to the General Assembly and Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area
Council (H-GAC). \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward pulled the item until the new Mayor had been sworn in.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to re-appoint Tom Fordyce to the City of
Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board. \[Mayor Woodward\]
Mayor Woodward moved that Tom Fordyce be re-appointed to the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory
Board. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0.
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.
a. Presentation, public comment, and discussion on a Citizen Participation Request from Jerry Edgin to discuss
McDonald Creek and the ditch in front of his home.
Jerry Edgin appeared to ask for action along McDonald Creek. Councilmember Rodriquez assured Mr. Edgin he would
meet with the homeowners and revisit the issue.
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.)
Mayor Woodward reminded all that early voting for the December 12 runoff election will continue through December 8, at the
Walker County Annex, and to be sure to snap a selfie with your “I Voted” sticker, and post it on Twitter with the hashtag
ShowUsYourSticker! Mayor Pro Tem Olson shared an HISD Minute, an announced the district was beginning a food drive to be
held today through December 15. Food will be collected at all campuses and the Hawkins Administration Building, to be
donated to the Good Shepherd Mission. Mayor Woodward announced the Christmas Parade was this Saturday night, and he
and Kimm Thomas recounted the full weekend of activities on December 3-6 around town.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 legal advice on the claim by fd2S. \[Leonard V. Schneider, City Attorney\]
Mayor Pro Tem moved the Council instruct the City Manager to sign the settlement agreement with fd2S, rather than going
into executive session, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was adopted, 7-1,
Councilmember Allen voting against.
10. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
Handled as item 9a.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary