Minutes - 02/16/2016
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 16 DAY OF FEBRUARY 2016, IN
THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 5:00 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Andy Brauninger, Joe Emmett, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith Olson, Tish
Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
WORK SESSION \[5:00 P.M.\] – The City Council will discuss and hear presentations on conditional use permits as
established by the 2015 Development Code update. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\]
The City Council discussed the process and requirements for consideration of conditional use permits.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 P.M.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Montgomery gave an invocation.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Recognition of Mrs. Betty Elvin and Dr. Joan Hudson for their volunteer work with Gibbs Pre-K.
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 meetings held on February 2, 2016 and the combined work session with
the Planning Commission on February 4, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Move to authorize the City Manager to apply for the 2016 Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) JAG Grant for
$93,625 and adopt Resolution 2016-21 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
c. Authorize the City Manager to apply for the Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division Body-Worn Camera
Program Grant for 66,700 in grant funds, with a City match of $16,675 and adopt Resolution 2016-20 in support of
same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to apply to the Texas Department of Public Safety for a 2016 Homeland Security Grant
in the amount of $99,936. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
e. Approve the purchase of resurface/rehabilitation of the Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center pool area.
\[Joseph Wiggs, Parks and Leisure Director\]
f. Authorize the City Manager to approve renewal of the contract with TML MultiState Intergovernmental Employee
Benefits Pool (IEBP) for health insurance administrative fees and authorize payment. \[Julie O’Connell, Human
Resources Director\]
g. Approve the purchase of various chemicals used in the Water, Wastewater, and Aquatic Center operations. \[Carol
Reed, Director of Public Works and Joseph Wiggs, Director of Parks and Recreation\]
h. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Ground Lease Agreement with John Kerr Smither \[for the\] 1103 and 1105
University Avenue for the Log Cabin. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Item 6a was handled before the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the
motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to approve an
agreement with Liberty Concrete and Construction and Doughtie Construction, in the amount of $583,100.00, to
construct and backfill the retaining walls for the new transfer station project, as recommended by Anchor
Construction, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the project. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to waive the second reading per Section 9 of the Rules of Procedure, the motion was
seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-0. Councilmember Johnson moved to authorize the City
Manager to sign addendum B, in the amount of $583,100.00, to construct and backfill the retaining walls for the new
transfer station project, as recommended by Anchor Construction, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the project;
the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 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. Consideration and discussion on Citizen Participation Request from Bill Hodges to discuss a proposal related to
the Presidential Busts.
This item was handled prior to the Consent Agenda. Mr. David Adickes told the Council he was willing to donate a full set of
his presidential busts to the City if someone else paid for or reimbursed him for the moving and assembly expenses. He
also said the gift was contingent on his being able to have input on the location of the busts. Mr. Adickes suggested hotel
occupancy tax funds be used for the expenses and a citizen committee work on a location. The Mayor and
Councilmember Johnson asked the City Manager to put together an item for the City Council to vote upon at an upcoming
meeting concerning what was heard tonight and addressing the costs.
b. Consideration and discussion on Citizen Participation Request from Marshall Herklotz for Municipal Court
Proceedings and parking on University Avenue.
Marshall Herklotz was unable to attend the meeting and asked his item be moved to March 1.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
Marissa Nunez confirmed with Chief Lunsford that the five additional officers referenced
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 Pro Tem Olson gave an HISD Minute! - You probably remember two proclamations were issued at our last meeting, one
of which was for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Week. Student members Adriana Aguilar and Riley
Trammell joined us for that. Their sponsor, Pamela Ray, let us know that on the following Saturday, FCCLA members
volunteered their time at Kroger to promote the Souper Bowl of Caring Tackle Hunger Campaign. For three hours they
handed out filled grocery bags for shoppers to purchase and also collected around $600 in donations to purchase more of
the filled grocery sacks. At the end of the day, 171 bags of groceries had been donated for delivery to the food pantry at the
Good Shepherd Mission! Way to go, FCCLA at HISD! Thank you for helping keep our community great!
Councilmember Humphrey announced that at 7 p.m. on February 18 the first training for Folk Festival volunteer costumed
actors would be held at the Walker Education Center.
Mayor Brauninger announced the following:
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Don’t forget the upcoming March 2 events for the 25th annual Texas Independence Day and Sam Houston’s Birthday
celebrations. Check the Tourism website at www.HuntsvilleTexas.com for all the details.
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Get ready to place your bids! There’s a Silent Book Auction at the library now through Monday. Come support your local
library!
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The library & the Walker County Genealogy Society will host the annual Genealogy Winter Lock-In this Sunday. All are
invited, and Society members will be available to assist. Register online at www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com.
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Billie Smith, the City’s Purchasing Manager, has information on the 20 Annual Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
Show, coming up on March 17. Business owners interested in reaching entities like the City of Huntsville, TDCJ, and
Walker County should make plans to attend. Call 936-291-5495 for more information.
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The annual Trash Bash is coming up on March 5 and the annual E-Waste Day on April 2. Check the City website for more
information on these great events!
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United Way of the Piney Woods will be accepting applications from 501(3)c non-profits who serve Walker County from Feb.
19 through April 1. Grant workshops will be held in the Library Community Room on Feb. 19 & 20. For more information,
call 936-499-7089.
Councilmember Emmett reminded all that early voting had begun \[for the party primaries\] and will continue through February 26.
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 claims regarding
i. David Gerling.
ii. on the implementation of Town Creek drainage project construction.
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 6:59 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
No action was taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary