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Minutes - 04/05/2016 MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 5th DAY OF APRIL 2016, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:00 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, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez, Tish Humphrey COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary WORK SESSION \[4:00 P.M.\] – The City Council will receive presentations and discuss eligible debt capacities, scenarios for a possible November 2016 election and potential quality of life projects. \[Joseph Wiggs, Director of Parks and Leisure\] The City Council heard the results of the recent parks amenities surveys and discussed potential quality of life projects. The City Manager presented fund by fund discussions on debt service amounts and potential city project in the coming years. 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 Johnson gave an invocation and Raven Davalos of Huntsville Home School Organization led the pledges. 3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS - Fair Housing Month - Magda Castaneda Day - National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week 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 15, 2016 and March 29, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\] The minutes were adopted without correction. 5. STATUTORY AGENDA a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action toconsider awarding the construction contract for the 30-Inch Water Transmission Main Surge Protection (Air/Vacuum Release Valves) Project (Project No. 14-11-11). \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\] Councilmember Johnson moved to award the construction contract to 5-T Utilities, Inc., for the construction of the 30-Inch Water Transmission Main Surge Protection Project (Air/Vacuum Release Valves), in the amount of $188,863.62.; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 8-0, b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to sign a construction services agreement with Garney Companies, Inc. for construction services to complete the Town Creek drainage project, first reading. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager; Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources; Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\] First reading, no action was taken. George Russell gave public comment. c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to sign a proposal with Burditt Consultants, LLC for Parks Master Plan Services. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager; Joseph Wiggs, Director of Parks and Leisure\] George Russell and Keith Jenkins gave public comment. Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to sign a proposal with Burditt Consultants, LLC for Parks Master Plan Services; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was adopted, 8-0, d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to apply for two (2) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants and adopt Resolution 2016-23 and Resolution 2016-24 in support of same. \[Dr.Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources and Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\] Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to apply for two (2) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants and adopt Resolution 2016-23 and Resolution 2016-24 in support of same; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Allen voting against, e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a resolution accepting a bid for the th sale of a City-owned 0.615 acre tract of land located north of 20th Street, south of 19 Street, west of Sam Houston Avenue, and east of Avenue L ½, located at 1930 A Sam Houston Avenue, and authorizing the City Manager, City Secretary, and City Attorney to execute all documents for the sale of said property. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development\] Charles Smither Jr., Tarek Maalouf, George Russell gave public comment. The Council adjourned into executive session at 7:06 p.m.. underTexas Government Code Section 551.071 – legal advice. The Council reconvened at 7:35 p.m. Councilmember Olson moved to reject all bids and revisit the item at a later date. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted 8-0. 6. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve the Mayor’s nominations to the County Uniform Truancy Policy Committee, required per Education Code 25.0916. \[Mayor Brauninger and Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\] 1. County Court at Law Judge Sorenson (appointed by both Judge Danny Pierce and Mayor Brauninger) 2. Municipal Judge John Gaines (appointed by bothJudge Danny Pierce and Mayor Brauninger) 3. Justice of the Peace Janie Farris 4. Superintendent of HISD’s designee, Dr. Mina Schnitta, HISD Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning 5. Open-enrollment charter school, Kevin Nichols, Principal, Premier High School, or his designee 6. Municipal Court Prosecutor David Moorman 7. General public representative Marjetta Spriggs Mayor Brauninger moved to approve his nominations to the County Uniform Truancy Policy Committee. The motion was unanimously adopted, 8-0. b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to move Board of Adjustments-Zoning Alternate A, John Cromer, to an open position on the board, to move Alternate B, David Zuniga, to the Alternate A position, per the request of the Board, and to nominate Anthony Watkins to then-opened Alternate B position. \[Mayor Brauninger\] Mayor Brauninger moved to approve his nominations to move Board of Adjustments-Zoning Alternate A, John Cromer, to an open position on the board, to move Alternate B, David Zuniga, to the Alternate A position, per the request of the Board, and to nominate Anthony Watkins to then-opened Alternate B position. The motion was adopted 7-1, Councilmember Emmett voting against. c. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to hear the report of the Board and Commissions Review Ad Hoc Committee and to adopt Ordinance 2016-14 amending Ordinance 2002-18, Section 1 (d) Duties of Board. \[Committee Chair Councilmember Montgomery\] First reading, no action was taken. d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on reappointment of Dennis Reed to the Cemetery Advisory Board. \[Mayor Brauninger\] Mayor Brauninger moved to approve his nomination. The motion was unanimously adopted, 8-0. e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on a request by Councilmember Allen to discuss changes to the City policy for payments to construction companies, to ensure that the contractors provide written proof of payment to their subcontractors/vendors who worked or provided materials/equipment on the project (the written proof being provided before the contractors are paid by the City, to protect owners granting easements to the City from being threatened with a lien against their property by subcontractors/vendors who are not paid by the contractor). \[Councilmember Allen\] Councilmember Allen moved that the City Attorney issue an updated letter to Reverend Haynes, saying that the City would be responsible for all legal fees regarding letter from Trench Plate Rental Company. The motion failed, 1-7 Councilemeber Allen voting in favor. 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 March 29, 2016. 8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA There were no media inquiries. 9. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST - Mayor Pro Tem Olson shared an HISD Minute! He offered congratulations to HISD Athletic Director Coach Marcus Evans and Principals Delanise Taylor and Beth Burtt on their well-earned retirements. All three have had long and successful careers in education and with the District, and we thank them and wish them well! Huntsville High School Military Marching Band members and Choir members are working hard right now as they will be competing at State UIL Solo & Ensemble Contests in May. HHS students earned over 200 1st Division ratings at the February competitions, allowing a number of students to advance. We wish all these talented musicians and vocalists the best of luck! - The Main Street Music Festival will be returning in April. Watch the Main Street Facebook page for dates and performers. - The Good Shepherd Mission, the City of Huntsville, Texas Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, and the Military Veteran Peer Network will be participating in a local Day of Service on April 16 from 1-5. Please call 936-521-6142 to join in. - Please mark your calendars for the Little Stinger Book Drive to make sure every local child has a book to take home this th summer! Bring new or gently worn books for PreK-4 grade to the Huntsville Public Library on April 12 from 10-4. Call the Chamber of Commerce for more details and additional drop-off sites. - Please help us welcome our new Deputy City Secretary, Megan Kaltenbach! Ms. Kaltenbach is a recent Bearkat graduate who joined us at the beginning of March. She is doing a great job and we are very happy to have her! nd - The 2 annual Veteran’s Expo will be April 26 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center in Conroe. Call Ashley at 936-521-6132 for more info. - Please take a look at the screen, there is a great new video available on the City’s social media platforms encouraging th everyone to be sure to register to vote by April 7 for our special election in May. Megan created this fun short video so please take a look! - Councilmember Humphrey reminded all of the ongoing Walker County Fair & Rodeo events and of SHSU’s student government All Paws In annual service day on Saturday. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. 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. The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:07 p.m. 11. RECONVENE Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session. The Council reconvened at 8:44 p.m. Councilmember Rodriquez moved to renew the City Secretary’s contract with an increase of 2.5%; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. Councilmember Olson moved to amend by adding four days of personal discretionary time to the contract; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The amendment failed 3-5, Councilmembers Montgomery, Rodriquez, Allen, Emmett, and Mayor Brauninger voting against. The main motion was unanimously adopted, 8-0. 12. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Lee Woodward, City Secretary