MIN CC 05/26/1998CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 26, 1998 BOOK "S" 146
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 26TH DAY OF MAY, 1998, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M.
The Council met in regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBER:
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William B. Green, Mayor Ron Lange Officers:
Dan S. Davis Dave Uniting Gene Pipes, City Manager
Vance Howard Ann James Danna Welter, City Secretary
JoAnn Matthews David Martinez Scott Bounds, City Attorney
Marjorie Rex
PROCLAMATION - National Garden Week
CITIZEN INPUTANQUIRY
1. James Black. Mr. Black addressed City Council regarding tax collections. He encouraged City Council to study the issue before
moving the City's tax collections from the Appraisal District to the County.
INVOCATION
Invocation by J. D. Schindler, Director of General Services.
CONSIDER MINUTES OF MAY 5, 1998
Councilmember James made a motion to approve the minutes of Mays 1998 and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion The
motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE 98 -05 -26.1 ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS OF 50 AND 60 MPH
ON PARTS OF F.M. 980
Mr. Bounds stated that Texas Department of Transportation had conducted a speed zone study on this section of F.M. 980 and
recommends approval of the ordinance.
Councilmember James made a motion to approve Ordinance 98-05-26.1 establishing speed limits of 50 and 60 mph onparts ofF M
980, and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER BID FOR LONG DISTANCE SERVICE TO LDS COMMUNICATION
IN THE AMOUNT OF $.0925 PER MINUTE
Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the bid for lone distance service to LDS Communication in the amount of $ 0925
per minute, and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER SEWER UTILITY EXTENSION ON SOUTHWOOD DRIVE AT LOOP 19
AT A COST TO THE CITY OF $2,307.25
Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve a sewer utility extension on Southwood Drive at Loon 19 at a cost to the City
of $2,307.25, and Councilmember Martinez seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER PURCHASE OF WEAPONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,236.54 TO BE FUNDED
FROM THE RESERVE FOR FUTURE ALLOCATION AND REIMBURSED BY POLICE OFFICERS
Chief Eckhardt stated that Council had previously approved the program of the City purchasing officers duty weapons, with the
officers reimbursing the City through payroll deduction. The program ran smoothly. Staff is requesting to continue the program with
the purchase of rifles and handguns in the amount of $11,236.54.
Mayor Green suggested that a line item be added to the Police Department budget in the future for these purchases.
Councilmember Rex made a motion to approve the allocation of $11,236.54 from the reserve for future allocation for purchase of
weapons to be reimbursed by police officers and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 26, 1998 BOOK "S"
CONSIDER PLACEMENT OF $34,645.09 OF RESIDUAL INSURANCE MONIES FROM
LOSS OF FIRE TRUCK INTO THE FIRE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND
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Chief Eckhardt stated that the repairs on fire truck #52 -700 have been completed at a total expense of $15,962.43. Farm Bureau
Insurance Company paid $50,000 to the City for the damages done to this vehicle and staff is recommending the remaining $34,645.09
be placed in the rolling stock fund for future replacement of fire apparatus.
Councilmember James made a motion to place S34.645.09 of residual insurance monies from the loss of a fire truck into the fire
equipment replacement fund and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimouslv.
MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT
1. Consider Ordinance 98 -05 -26.2 approving a supplemental Huntsville Raw Water Supply Contract dated April 22, 1998, between
the City and Trinity River Authority for up to 6 MGD of raw water for TRA's Lake Livingston Reservoir for industrial purposes.
Councilmember Davis made a motion to approve Ordinance 98-05-26.2 approving a supplemental Huntsville Raw Water Supply
Contract dated April 22 1998 between the City and IRA for up to 6 MGD of raw water, and Councilmember Lange seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Consider Ordinance 98 -05 -26.3 approving an agreement for supply and delivery of treated water between the City and Tenaska
Frontier Partners, Ltd.
Councilmember Davis asked if this was the final contract or is it likely to be changed. Mr. Bounds stated that any substantive
changes will be brought back to City Council.
Councilmember Luning made a motion to approve Ordinance 98 -05 -26.3 approving an agreement for supply and delivery of treated
water between the Citv and Tenaska Frontier Partners Ltd and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
3. Consider approval of letter to Trinity River Authority to retain Alan Plummer & Associates, for the preliminary and design
engineering work on the proposed improvements to the TRA plant. Included in the letter is approval of the use of 5156,277 reserve
surplus from the prior fiscal year as seed money for the necessary engineering costs.
Councilmember Davis made a motion to authorize the City Manager to send a letter to authorize TRA to retain Alan Plummer &
Associates with the use of $156.277 reserve surplus funds and Councilmember Rex seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
COUNCILMEMBER ACTION
Annual Audit. Councilmember Davis made a motion to retain Ken Davis as the City's Auditor subject to annual approval for the next
three years at a cost of $12.500 annually and Councilmember Luning seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Legislative Review Seminar. Mr. Pipes stated that by City Charter each Councilmember may spend up to $500 reimbursable expenses
for training each fiscal year. The Charter does provide that such limitations shall apply only to reimbursed expenses and shall not
restrict or limit the authority of the Council to authorize expenditures by the Mayor or Councilmembers for such purposes in excess
of such amounts. Councilmembers attending TML deplete their allotted $500 annually. Councilmember Matthews is requesting to
attend a legislative review seminar in Austin on May 29.
Councilmember Lange made a motion to approve Councilmember Matthews' request to attend the legislative review seminar in
Austin on May 29 and Councilmember James seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Charter Review Committee. Councilmember James suggested that a Charter review committee be appointed to look at possible
amendments needed for our City Charter.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Wayne Sorge, KSAM, asked if the City has received any formal notification on legislation in Washington regarding the Highway
30 overpass. Mayor Green stated that the City has received no formal notification.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 26, 1998 BOOK 'S' 148
ADJOURNMENT
Recess into WORK SESSION for the 1998 -99 pre - budget discussion and review of the City Council member expenses reimbursement
and other policies relative to annual term of service and:
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a) Tracy Hicks, Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates, to update and provide time line for Robinson Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and
Fish Hatchery Road sewer collection project; and
b) Juanita Lynch, to discuss the beautification of Sam Houston Memorial Drive leading to the Sam Houston Grave and the Company
F Monument.
Recess into EXECUTIVE SESSION to discuss: [7:47 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.]
a) pending or contemplated litigation: Energy /GSU rate case and franchise agreement audit, Townsend, Hyvl, Philp and Johnson;
b) personnel matter: annual performance of Charter Officers of the City - City Manager position; and
c) real estate acquisition: 10 Street right -of -way and Johnson property.
Danna Welter, City Secretary