Minutes - 07/18/2017
TH
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 18 DAY OF JULY 2017, 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, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P.
Rodriquez, Clyde D. Loll, Tyler McCaffety, Paul Davidhizar
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 and Girl Scout Brownies Lilly Cauthen, Christina Fisher, and Kaelyn Klock 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 June 20, 2017. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Approve the 2017 Joint Election Agreement and Election Services Contract with Walker County for the November
7, 2017 election. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Loll. The motion
was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
into a contract for construction of the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center expansion and adopting associated
budget amendment Ordinance 2017-39 for same, second reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community &
Economic Development\]
Councilmember McCaffety signed a Conflict of Interest Affidavit and did not participate in the discussion or vote for this
item. Councilmember Davidhizar moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Timberline Constructors,
Inc. for the construction of the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center expansion, and adopt associated budget
amendment Ordinance 2017-39. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion was adopted, 5-3, Mayor
Pro Tem Olson, and Councilmembers Allen, and Emmett voting against.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter
into contracts to install two permanent digital signs for a total of $161,196.00 and adopting Ordinance 2017-40 for
the related budget amendment. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts to install two permanent digital signs for
a total of $161,196.00 and adopt Ordinance 2017-40 for the related budget amendment. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 7-2, Councilmembers McCaffety and Rodriquez voting against.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider rejection of bids for construction of the
Huntsville Animal Shelter. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to reject construction bids for the Huntsville Animal Shelter. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0.
d. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City
Manager to award the construction contract for the Robinson Creek Basin Sanitary Sewer Project – Project No. 17-
10-03, first reading. \[Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
First reading, no action taken.
5. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider Mayor’s nominations for board and
committee service. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved his nominations (below), which were unanimously adopted, 9-0.
Huntsville Arts Commission
Ann Hodges, reappointment
John Escobedo, reappointment
Board of Adjustments & Appeals (BOAA)
Joe Soliz, reappointment Huntsville Main Street Advisory Board
Helen Belcher, reappointment Dr. Caroline Crimm, reappointment
Jerry Moorer, reappointment John Mathews, reappointment
Helen Belcher, appointment to open position
Historic Preservation Commission
Laura Bruns, reappointment
Cheryl Spencer, reappointment
Heike Ness, reappointment
Linda Patteson, reappointment
Todd Armstrong, reappointment
Planning Commission
Woody Woods, reappointment
Cemetery Advisory Board
Dennis Reed, reappointment
TIRZ #1 Board of Directors (City appointments)
Ken Holland, reappointment
Huntsville Hotel Occupancy Tax Board
Ken Holland, reappointment
Walker County Public Communications Center (City
Scotty Cherryholmes, reappointment
appointments)
Jeff Dugas, reappointment
Huntsville Housing Authority
Craig Schlicher, reappointment
Joe Soliz, reappointment
Carolyn Lewis, reappointment
Zoning Board of Adjustments
Huntsville Public Library Board Ken Holland, reappointment
Debra Daugette, reappointment
Jeannine Jacoby, reappointment
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, July 11, 2017.
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:
- This year’s July 4th celebration at Kate Barr Ross Park was reported by the Parks & Leisure Department to be the best one
yet! Take a look at this picture from the watermelon-eating event. By later in the evening, an estimated 3000 people filled the
park and surrounding parking lots to celebrate our country.
- July 12 was the City of Huntsville’s 182nd birthday – and you all look marvelous! Happy Birthday, Huntsville! Here’s a sampling
of the wonderful birthday messages you received!
- Please don’t wait to make sure you are registered to vote in Walker County for the November elections. Call the Walker County
Voter Registrar’s office at 936-436-4959 or visit VoteTexas.gov.
HISD Minute! (Mayor Pro Tem Olson) – The Chamber’s POP Committee is kicking off the Hornet T-Shirt Campaign for Huntsville
ISD students. Maybe you saw Nancy Franklin's excellent article in the paper Sunday before last. Just a $5 donation will provide
a Hornet t-shirt for students to wear when school starts in August. Each child in need will receive a voucher to Ink Slingers to
pick out their own design and size. These t-shirts are included in the new dress code updates.
The Chamber and the HISD Administration Bldg. will be collecting checks & cash. They would like to complete this campaign by
the first week in August so the kids can have their shirts by the time school starts. Please make a difference in our students’ lives
by putting shirts on their backs & smiles on their faces!
CoH Clean Minute! (Councilmember Humphrey) – Thanks for helping keep Home Sweet Huntsville clean – and safe – by being
thoughtful about disposing of grease. Please don’t ever, ever pour grease or oils in drains. Let them cool & then put them in a
used coffee can or Ziploc bag and set it in the fridge or freezer. Put the firmed oil or grease into some plastic bags & right into
the green trash can for disposal. You can also use this freezing trick with smelly kitchen waste like fish or chicken bones. Let’s
think about what we throw away and how and where we do it, so that Home Sweet Huntsville can stay that way!
Hurricane Preparedness (Councilmember Davidhizar) – It’s June in Texas, which means we’re in hurricane season until the end
of November. Make sure you and your household is ready by reviewing the City’s preparedness page at
www.HuntsvilleTX.gov/ReadyHuntsville. You’ll find supply kit lists, a link to the City’s social media platforms, area maps, and a
special preparedness issue of This Week in Huntsville. Make sure you’re ready! #ReadyHuntsville!
Communication survey (Councilmember Loll) – Please take a moment to help us out by completing our Communications Survey
on the City’s Facebook page! It’s only six questions and will just take a second to share your thoughts on what you want to know
and how you want to hear about it. Thanks for the help!
Minute of acknowledgement for Dallas PD (Councilmember Rodriquez) – On July 7, Governor Greg Abbott asked law
enforcement officers statewide to turn on their vehicle lights for one minute at 10:00 a.m. Friday and follow it with a moment of
silence in recognition of the shooting of officers in Dallas one year ago. Local officers gathered at the Prison Museum and took
this photo afterward. Thanks to our community for their continuing support of all these men and women do to keep us safe – we
truly appreciate local law enforcement!
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 – consultation
with counsel on legal matters and Section 551.071 - consultation with counsel on legal matters to receive legal
advice and Texas Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.072 – deliberation regarding purchase, exchange,
lease or value of real property on 457 Interstate Highway 45 South, Huntsville. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard
Schneider, City Attorney\]
b. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 - consultation
between governmental body and its attorney to seek advice of attorney about a matter in which the duty of the
attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of
Texas clearly conflicts with the Open Meetings Act, regarding complaint against Councilmember Allen. \[Leonard
Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 7:27 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
The Council reconvened at 8:35 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to retain the firm of Olson & Olson to perform an ongoing
investigation of a Councilmember. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion passed, 8-0,
Councilmember Allen having left the meeting after item 9a.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 8:36 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary