Minutes - 06/21/2016
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 21 DAY OF JUNE 2016, 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: Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith Olson, Ronald Allen, Joe P.
Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Paul Davidhizar
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 Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one, and indivisible.
Councilmember Johnson gave an invocation and members of Boy Scout Troop 98 led the pledges. Mayor Brauninger
recognized Wastewater Collections employees Dusty Farquar and Anthony Jenkins for their assistance to resident Mrs. Shirley
Raider recently.
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 June 7, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
The minutes were approved without correction.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2016-29
to approve the GRIP rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy, first reading. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to approve Ordinance 2016-29 to approve the GRIP rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy
and to waive a second reading per Section 4.12 of the City Charter. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Montgomery. The motion was adopted, 6-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the City of Huntsville joining the
Education Service Center Region 19 Purchasing Cooperative (ESC19). \[Steve Ritter, Director of Finance\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the City of Huntsville joining the Education Service Center Region 19
Purchasing Cooperative (ESC19). The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Johnson and Rodriquez. The motion
was adopted, 6-0,
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to purchase fuel for
City vehicles and equipment utilizing the Texas Fleet Fuel card system. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Rodriquez moved to approve authorizing the City Manager to purchase fuel for City vehicles and
equipment utilizing the Texas Fleet Fuel card system. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion
was adopted, 6-0,
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to purchase bulk fuel from Mansfield Oil utilizing
the National IPA Cooperative. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to approve the purchase of bulk fuel from Mansfield Oil utilizing the National IPA
Cooperative. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was adopted, 6-0,
e. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider awarding various streets to be milled
and paved with asphalt to AAA Asphalt Paving. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the City Manager to award various streets to be milled and paved with
asphalt to AAA Asphalt Paving. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez and Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The
motion was adopted, 6-0,
f. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
into a Utility Agreement with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for relocating water and sewer lines
near IH-45 and SH 19 Interchange and adopting associated budget amendment Ordinance 2016-28. \[Y. S. “Ram”
Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into an Utility Agreement with Texas Department
(TxDOT) for relocating water and sewer lines in the vicinity of the IH-45 and SH 19 Interchange and approve the
associated budget amendment Ordinance 2016-28. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion
was adopted, 6-0,
5. 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 June 14, 2016.
6. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
7. 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 Brauninger announced:
- Councilmember Olson announced Huntsville ISD’s congratulations to Mr. Robert Bennett, named as administrator for the
new Westmoreland Academy - Huntsville ISD Alternative Education Program. Mr. Bennett has successfully led the district’s
discipline and alternative education program for many years and will work diligently to design an outstanding alternative
education program for students, not only address the disciplinary education requirements, but also to meet the needs of
students who simply desire a different type of learning environment.
- Join the City’s Parks & Leisure Department at Kate Barr Ross Park on Monday, July 4, beginning at 4 pm, to celebrate our
nation! There will be lots of fun activities and food vendors on site, followed by a great fireworks show just after dark.
- Happy Birthday to Councilmember Humphrey on June 27 and Deputy City Secretary Megan Kaltenbach on June 28!
- The City is still under Stage 3 Mandatory Water Restrictions and asks citizens to assist by following the prohibition on
exterior water usage.
8. 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 Judge John Gaines.
b. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 - personnel
matters regarding the evaluation and duties of City Manager Matt Benoit.
c. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 -consultation
with counsel on legal matters regarding the City of Huntsville agreement No. 95-53 with the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 6:42 p.m.
9. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:52 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved for item 8a to implement a step increase effective October
1, the motion was seconded by Councilmembers Montgomery and Johnson. The motion was unanimously adopted, 6-0..
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary