Minutes - 07/19/2015
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 19th DAY OF JULY 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, Paul Davidhizar, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith Olson , Joe
Emmett, 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 SESSIONS \[4:00 P.M.\] – City Council will discuss a potential bond election for the November 8, 2016 ballot.
Jana Edwards of McCall, Parkhurst, & Horton, L.L.P., Boyd London of Hillcrest Securities, and City Manager Matt Benoit presented
ordinance and ballot options for the proposed November bond election.
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.
Mayor Brauninger gave an invocation and led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Expression of appreciation for Fourth of July events from Charlotte Oleinik and Carla McDougall
- Information on City’s new ISO rating from Director of Public Safety Police Chief Kevin Lunsford and Fire Chief Tom Grisham
- Proclamation in recognition of Leta Reiner and her service to veterans
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 July 5, 2016. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to apply for a Community Development Block Grant - Community Enhancement
(CDBG-CE) through the Texas Department of Agriculture, and adopt Resolution 2016-30 in support of same. \[Dr.
Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
c. Authorize the City Manager to accept 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 Ordinance 2016-31 amending
the budget for same. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to accept an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). \[Dr. Sherry
McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
e. Authorize the City Manager to award the construction to Doughtie Construction Co., Inc., for the construction of
the 7th Street Rehabilitation Project (No. 13-12-04) in the amount of $1,365,034.75, and adopt Ordinance 2016-30
for the associated budget amendment, second reading. \[Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
f. Adopt Ordinance 2016-32 to amend the budget for FY 15-16 and amend the Capital Improvement Projects budget.
\[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
Councilmember Allen asked to pull item 4a. Councilmember Rodriquez asked to pull item 4e. The motion was
unanimously adopted, 9-0.
Councilmember Humphrey moved to amend the minutes by inserting “as per the one presented in \[our\] packets” and to
strike “\[as opposed to their annual request for their spay and neuter program\]”. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro
Tem Olson. Discussion confirmed the request from the July 5 meeting for operations was $100,400. The item was
adopted unanimously, 9-0.
Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to award the construction to Doughtie Construction
Co., Inc., for the construction of the 7th Street Rehabilitation Project (No. 13-12-04) in the amount of $1,365,034.75, and
adopt Ordinance 2016-30 for the associated budget amendment; the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Davidhizar. The motion was adopted,
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action toauthorize the City Manager
to sign Addendum C to the Agreement for Construction Manager At-Risk Services between the City of Huntsville
and Anchor Construction, LLC for a guaranteed maximum price of $1,155,609, first reading. \[Matt Benoit, City
Manager, and Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to sign Addendum C to the Agreement for Construction
Manager At-Risk Services between the City of Huntsville and Anchor Construction, LLC for a Guaranteed Maximum Price
of $1,155,609 and temporarily suspend the Rules of Procedure, per their provisions, to waive a second reading. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. Councilmember Allen asked that City Manager Benoit’s answers to
his questions be entered into the minutes, those being that the City Manager confirmed there were no changes to the
project that had been made or discussed with the Finance Committee that were not in the Council packet for tonight’s
meeting and that the project would still result in the same transfer station project, also considering such items as size,
expected life, equipment and parking. The motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve the Mayor’s nomination of
Councilmember Humphrey to the City Council Finance Committee.
Mayor Brauninger moved his nomination of Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
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.
Consideration and discussion on a Citizen Participation Request from Robert Pusateri concerning power lines and
asking that those over 230 kW and over 100’ tall be placed underground through or adjacent to residential
neighborhoods.
Robert Pusateri asked that the Council assist residents by limiting poles to 40’ to preserve trees and to require lines over
230kW be buried to preserve neighborhood values. He added that Entergy had told him there would not be a local substation
and that the power was primarily for The Woodlands and other areas south of the community. Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development and Ronnie Hale of Entergy informed the Council that the Texas Public Utilities
Commission conduct public hearings and gather other information to determine which routes would be allowed.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
9. 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.)
Councilmember Davidhizar shared that Mayor Brauninger would be having a special birthday on July 31.
Mayor Brauninger announced:
- July 12 was the City’s 181st birthday. It was widely celebrated on social media, here’s a look!
- The ABC Channel 13 Texas Road Trippers came to town and filmed a short video – let’s watch!
- That’s not all the coverage we’ve been getting, either. Huntsville was featured in this month’s issue of Texas Farm & Home.
Their 3-day tour in our community was given a lovely spread with several photos. Also, HGTV’s House Hunters - Out of the
Box was in town recently filming some local businesses and sites to be broadcast at a later date.
- This morning, the Police and Firemen's Insurance Association honored Matt Morris and Chase Wood of the Huntsville Fire
Department with an award for the water rescue they were involved in on Highway 30 during the recent flood event.
You will recall we also recognized two members of our Solid Waste team a couple of meetings ago, for aid they offered to
another resident in need. The City is so proud of all its employees, who regularly go out of their way and above and beyond
the call of duty. We don’t even hear about all of their good deeds, but are so thankful to be part of such a kind and
professional team. Please thank a City employee when you see them, for all they do every day!
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. 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 7:20 p.m.
11. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:49 p.m. No action was taken.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 8:49 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary