Minutes - 10/18/2016
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 18 DAY OF OCTOBER
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 D.
Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
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.
Mayor Brauninger gave an invocation Evan Tijerina from HISD led the pledges.
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 October 4, 2016, the combined workshop with the
Planning Commission on October 6, 2016, and of the State of the City address on October 11, 2016. \[Lee
Woodward, City Secretary\]
b.
Authorize the City Manager to accept a 2016 Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $99,936 from the
Governor’s Office. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to adopt the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a.
FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager
to sign Addendum D, for a Guaranteed Maximum Price in the amount of $355,800 to the Construction Manager at
Risk Agreement with Anchor Construction for the City of Huntsville Transfer Station, first reading. \[Carol Reed,
Director of Public Works\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to sign Addendum D, for a Guaranteed Maximum Price in the
amount of $355,800 to the Construction Manager at Risk Agreement with Anchor Construction for the City of Huntsville
Transfer Station and to suspend the Rules of Procedure and waive the second reading; the motion was seconded by
Councilmember Davidhizar. The motion failed, 5-4 (two-thirds vote required to adopt), Mayor Brauninger, and
Councilmembers Allen, Emmett, and Rodriquez voting against.
b.
Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorizethe City Manager and City Attorney
to execute the necessary documents to abandon the existing public utility easement filed in Volume 174, Page
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623 of the Public Records of Walker County, Texas located at 1710 11 Street. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of
Community and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorizethe City Manager and City Attorney to execute the necessary documents
to abandon the existing public utility easement filed in Volume 174, Page 623 of the Public Records of Walker County,
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Texas located at 1710 11 Street; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted,
9-0.
5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a.
Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2017-01, as to the principal
and interest payments associated with Propositions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 8, 2016 ballot. \[Matt Benoit, City
Manager\]
Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt Resolution 2017-01, as to the principal and interest payments associated with
Propositions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 8, 2016 ballot; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The
motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilmember Allen voting against.
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.
No requests were received by noon on Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
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.)
Mayor Brauninger announced:
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We want all citizens to be fully informed on the upcoming bond election. Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov/Bond to watch the
video and learn more.
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Early voting begins October 24. Please check our website for details on locations and times.
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The annual Main Street Scare on the Square will be on Saturday, October 29, from 2-5:30. Join me for the costume
contest!
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The downtown Farmers Market has begun again for the fall, every Saturday from 8-noon through November 19.
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This Saturday at 1 pm, please join us at Oakwood Cemetery for a remembrance of the 180 anniversary of Sam
Houston’s inauguration as the first President of the Republic of Texas. On Nov. 5 at 10 am, there will be a marker
placement at Oakwood, commemorating the local victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic.
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I love going to visit with our local students, as I’ve mentioned before. Here are some letters from a recent visit.
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Many thanks to the City staff and TDCJ executives for their hard work on the recent negotiations for the water agreement
for the Ellis and Estelle Units.
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Mayor Pro Tem Olson gave an HISD Minute, ………. Detours, delays, and doughnuts – oh, my! Projects around 7 and 10
Streets, including the Town Creek Drainage Project, will necessitate taking a little more time and perhaps some different routes
around the area. This morning, staff made things a little sweeter near Sam Houston Elementary, with the City’s first Doughnut
Drop – take a look!
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Councilmember Humphrey congratulated the SHSU Bearkats on being 1 in the FCS. She also lauded HEB for their local
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donations each time the team gets in the red zone. Councilmember Davidhizar invited all to the Alpha Omega 20 anniversary
at this coming Friday’s football game at 7 p.m. The Mayor also shared the fun the Council had at the recent combined
homecoming parade for SHSU and HISD.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a.
City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section
551.074 - personnel matters regarding the evaluation and job duties of City Manager Matt Benoit.
The Council adjourned into Executive Session at 7:10 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:11 p.m. No action was taken
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary