Minutes - 03/15/2016
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 15th DAY OF MARCH 2016, IN THE
CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:30 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, , Ronald
Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Tish Humphrey
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
WORK SESSION \[4:30 P.M.\] – The City Council will hear presentation from PGAL representative Jeff Gerber on the
proposed Visitor Center Renovation and Expansion plans.
The City Council discussed Visitors Center needs and uses and options for expansion.
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 Rodriquez gave an invocation and Alissa Wion of Huntsville Home School
Organization led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
-Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Autism Awareness Month
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 March 1, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to approve a request from the Tarrant County Historical Commission to place a
Historical Marker in Oakwood Cemetery for Colonel John W. Thomason. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
c. Authorize the City Manager to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for
$238,596 and adopt Resolution 2016-22 in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood
Resources\]
d. Authorize purchase of tires to be used on all vehicles and equipment citywide. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public
Works\]
e. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with McDonald Municipal and Industrial for installation of a
replacement generator at the A. J. Brown Waste Water Treatment Plant for $274,269.00 and adopt Ordinance 2016-
13 for a budget amendment in support of same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
Councilmember Olson moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion was adopted, 7-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to
approve an agreement with PGAL Architects to complete design and provide construction observation services
for a remodel and expansion to the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center and approve Ordinance 2016-12
amending the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget and CIP budget, second reading. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager; Kimm
Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services\]
(Item was postponed to this meeting from the March 1, 2016 meeting.) Councilmember Johnson moved to consider
authorizing the City Manager to approve an agreement with PGAL Architects to complete design and provide construction
observation services for a remodel and expansion to the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center and approve Ordinance
2016-12 amending the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget and CIP budget; the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Montgomery. Councilmember Emmett clarified that the vote was only to have the architect proceed with design, not to
approve a finished project or budget for such. Jeanine Jacoby, Carl Overton, Sam Beard, and Ken Holland gave public
comment. The motion was adopted, 6-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
6. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider nomination of Mac Woodward to an
unexpired term on the Rita B. Huff Humane Society Board of Directors. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved to approve his nomination of Mac Woodward to an unexpired term on the Rita B. Huff Humane
Society Board of Directors. The motion was unanimously adopted, 7-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt the City Council’s 2016 Strategic Plan.
\[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Mayor Brauninger moved to adopt the City Council’s 2016 Strategic Plan; the motion was seconded by Councilmembers
Montgomery and Olson. Councilmember Rodriquez moved to amend the Strategic Plan by including language stating that
on the issues that will come before the Council in the coming year, there will be a \[Council\] workshop after the Long Range
Planning Committee has reviewed them, so that the entire Council can discuss them and have input, and, further, that the
workshop is not on the same day the motion \[to approve the issue\] will come before the Council, the motion was seconded
by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion to amend was unanimously adopted, 7-0. The original motion was
unanimously adopted, 7-0.
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.)
- The annual E-Waste Day will be held at the City’s Disposal and Recycling Center on Saturday, April 2. Call 294-5712 for more
information.
- The Main Street Music Festival will be returning in April. Watch the Main Street Facebook page for dates and performers.
- Mayor Pro Tem Olson has an HISD Minute!
- Stay tuned for more info. on the HISD Little Stinger Book Drive in early April. Start digging out your gently used Pre-K through
4th grade kids' books!
- SHSU's All Paws In will be Saturday, April 9. Contact Student Government for volunteer opportunities in our community!
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 to receive legal advice on Charter Section 11.17.
b. City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.071 to receive legal advice on claims regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act.
c. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 – personnel
matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a
public officer or employee, concerning City Secretary Lee Woodward.
Councilmember Allen moved to discuss item 9a in open session, the motion failed for lack of a second. The Council
adjourned into Executive Session at 6:47 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:49 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the City Attorney to enter into an agreement
with Bill Helfand on the ADA issues in item 9b, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was
unanimously adopted, 7-0.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 8:49 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary