MIN CC 08/05/2008CITY COUNCIL MEETING of AUGUST 5, 2008 BOOK "U" 137
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 5TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2008, IN THE CITY
HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:OOPM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: J. Turner, Wayne Barrett, Tom Cole, Charles Forbus, Melissa Mahaffey, Lanny Ray, Mac
Woodward, Dalene Zander
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Clarence Griffin
OFFICERS PRESENT: Victor Pena, Acting City Manager; Thomas A. Leeper, City Attorney; Stephanie Brim, City Secrete
WORK SESSION [5:15- 5:55pm]
City Council conducted a work session to discuss debt reduction options for the FY 2008 -09 budget and the tax rate structure
and schedule.
CALL TO ORDER [6:OOpm]
Mayor Turner called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to US and TEXAS FLAGS, INVOCATION
Councilmember Barrett led the invocation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (Agenda items only.)
Joe Smith. Mr. Smith spoke in support of a burn ordinance.
CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve minutes of City Council meetings held on July 7 and 8, 2008.
b. Authorize the City Manager to execute the printing contract with Speed Printing of Conroe, TX and Eagle Graphics of
Huntsville, TX, dependent on the printing job, to gain the best value for a total contract amount not to exceed $32,500.
C. Approve acceptance of the FY 2009 Tobacco Compliance grant in the amount of $4,000.
d. Approve Ordinance 2008 -28, amending the FY 2007 -08 budget.
Councilmember Woodward moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; and Councilmember Forbus
seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action to accept the annual Huntsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Council
audit.
The Huntsville Convention and Visitors Center Bureau is a component unit of the City. The audit covers City funds
held by the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the City to conduct tourism and operations of the Visitors Center, and
was presented by Ken Davis, C.P.A.
No action was taken on this item.
b. Presentation, discussion and /orpossible action to suspend the City Council Rules of Procedure, specifically Section 9.5
- Work Sessions, to allowfor the required record vote on the proposed tax rate, discussed in a work session on August
5, 2008.
Councilmember Forbus moved to suspend the City Council Rules of Procedure; and Councilmember Cole
seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
C. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action to take a record vote on the proposed fiscal year 2008 -09 tax rate.
' State tax law requires that if a proposed tax rate exceeds the effective rate, the governing body must have a
record vote to place the proposal to adopt the rate on a future meeting's agenda. The meeting can not be held until after
two public hearings on the proposed rate. Because of the November 2007 bond election, which provided for a tax
increase of up to $0.02, a possibility exists that when the FY 08 -09 budget is finalized, when considering the effect of the
bond election, the proposed tax rate may exceed the effective rate.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING of AUGUST 5, 2008 BOOK "U" 138
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action to purchase a generator for the McGary Creek lift station.
During the design of this lift station upgrade in 2002 the consulting electrical engineer felt that the existing
generator might be able to run the new pumps and equipment installed at the station. The decision was made to
attempt to use the existing generator, which was only 8 years old at the time.
On June 10, 2008 during the installation and start up process of the two new 150 hp submersible pumps the
representative from the lift station manufacturer determined that the existing back up power source was not sufficient to
operate the pumps. To remedy this situation temporarily, the portable 275 KW generator on a trailer, based at the N.B.
Davidson wastewater treatment plant and used as backup power for other small lift stations without a permanent
generator, was taken to the lift station and put into service.
The backup generator is only large enough to operate one pump in the manual mode. It will not function in the
automatic setting. This means when loss of power events occur the generator will not automatically start the pumps, it
has to be turned on manually by responding staff, who will need to stay on site operating the pumps manually until power
is restored.
The proper sized generator needs to be installed to avoid the possibility of a sanitary sewerovernow in the event
of a loss of power.
Councilmember Woodward moved to purchase a generatorforthe McGary Creek lift station; and Councilmember
Forbus seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 -1 with Councilmember Cole voting against.
Presentation, discussion and /orpossible action tojoin the Tarrant County Cooperative purchasing program by Interlocal
Agreement.
Tarrant County, Texas has established a cooperative purchasing program available to various governmental
entities. The cooperative has 288 members with an available 150 annual contracts. Tarrant County Cooperative follows
State statutes and actively recruits Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBS). Tarrant County has been recognized
and featured for their practices in national governmental magazines. Initial conversations between Tarrant
County Cooperative Purchasing Coordinator and the City of Huntsville have taken place; however, final approval from
City of Huntsville City Council and Tarrant County Commissioners Court must be obtained prior to execution of contract.
Councilmember Zender moved to authorize the City Manager to execute the Interlocal Agreement between
Tarrant County and the City of Huntsville for participation in the Tarrant Count (purchasing) Cooperative and
Councilmember Mahaffey seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action to purchase tires using the Tarrant County Cooperative purchasing
program and through Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TXMAS) pricing.
Currently tires are purchased utilizing the Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TXMAS) pricing. This contract expired
in January 2007. The City has been purchasing from the new contract pricing for the TXMAS contract. In accordance
with City of Huntsville Purchasing Policy this contract is being presented to City Council. Tire pricing was reviewed and
determined that tires can be purchased from the Tarrant County Cooperative and TXMAS contract utilizing the best
price dependent on the tire.
Councilmember Forbus moved to approve the purchase of tires for the remaining 07 -08 budget year and allow
purchase for the 08 -09 budget year utilizing the best value between Tarrant County Cooperative and the TXMAS
Contract and Councilmember Ray seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
)R/CITY COUNCILMEMBER1 CITY MANAGER REPORT III
Presentation, discussion and /orpossible action to approve a contract with a candidate for the position of City Manager.
Mayor Turner briefly reviewed the city manager search and interview process.
Mayor Turner moved to approve a contract with William Baine as the City's next City Manager and
Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
Presentation, discussion and /orpossible action to appoint Victor Pena as the Interim and /or Assistant City Managerwith
appropriate salary and benefits.
Councilmember Mahaffey moved to (1) retroactively pay Mr. Pena 10% above his current salary for the time he
was Acting City Manager, (2) pay him for three weeks' of vacation he will not have time to use and (3) appoint him as
Interim City Manager beginning retroactively on July 8 and moving forward until August 25 2008 and Councilmember
Forbus seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action to on the Barrett sign variance request.
Councilmember Woodward moved to approve the variance to the Development Code to allow the Barretts to
replace the sign in its original configuration and Councilmember Zender seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the following appointments:
(a) Beth Miles to the Ad Hoc Library Feasibility Study Committee; and
Mayor Turner moved to appoint Beth Miles to the Ad Hoc Library Feasibility Study Committee and Councilmember
Woodward seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
(b) TIRZ Board appointments.
Mayor Turner moved to reappoint Councilmember Dalene Zander to the TIRZ Board position number one; and
Councilmember Cole seconded the motion. The motion passed 8 -0.
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING of AUGUST 5, 2008 BOOK "U" 139
affidavit with the City Secretary.
e. Presentation, discussion and /or possible action on the City's current burn ordinances.
Councilmember Mahaffey handed out some information to City Council to begin a dialog on burn ordinances,
encouraged citizen input.
No action was taken on this item.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (open)
George Russell. Mr. Russell stated his stress level was high and stated his disappointment due to the development of
Target site, and read Target's environmental management position to the City Council.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
George Russell. Mr. Russell stated his credentials as Chief Executive Officer of Educational Video Network and inquired as
who on City staff has met with the Target development?
ADJOURNMENT[6:57pm]
Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting.
A. Brim, City