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MIN CC 07/14/1998154 MINUTES OF THE HANTS VILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 14TH DAY OF JULY, 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: William B. Green, Mayor Ron Lange Officers: Dan S. Davis Dave Luning Gene Pipes, City Manager David Martinez Ann James Scott Bounds, City Attorney Ij JoAnn Matthews Danna Welter, City Secretary hABSENT: Marjorie Rex, Vance Howard CITIZEN INPUT/INQUIRY 1. Charles Smither, Jr. Mr. Smither expressed his opposition to the urban arterial street plan. He feels the amount of money is outrageous when considering the many needs of the city. 2. Leon Hams. Mr. Harris presented the City Council a petition containing 662 signatures opposing the proposed arterial street mute. INVOCATION Invocation by Carroll Williams, First Baptist Church. CONSIDER MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 1998 Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve the minutes of June 23, 1998 and Councilmember James seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. NOTE: Councilmembers Rex and Howard absent. ' ALAN PLUM.MER ASSOCIATES, INC. REPORT ON WATER SYSTEM EVALUATION FOR TASTE, ODOR AND COLOR Mr. Wilder stated that during this budget year, monies were appropriated for a taste, odor and color evaluation of the City's water system related to the brown water problems experienced over the years. Alan Plummer Associates have completed the report and Mr. Lee Head will explain the findings. Mr. Head summarized his report by stating that it is recommended that the City continue its distribution system replacement program and begin a phased approach to further minimize brown water and taste and odor problems. The phased approach is: • Semiannual full system flush of distribution system from the source wells out to the perimeter of the system. • Well cleaning and remediation. The priority of cleaning would be Wells 19, 15, and 17, followed by 14 and 18, and finally 12, 13 and 20. • If after the flushing program and well cleaning programs are established there is a need for additional efforts to minimize the incidences of brown water, water treatment such as reverse osmosis or ozone could be considered. Prior to installing treatment equipment at individual well sites, a cost - effective analysis between the individual well treatment systems and expansion of the HRWSS plant. It may be more cost effective to expand the plant to provide a greater percentage of the water than try to treat at individual well sites. • Move existing intake structure at the HRWSS plant o a location in the Trinity River that would not be as influenced by local runoff or seasonal patterns of flow as the current location. Mayor Green asked if the City discontinued using its wells except on an emergency basis, would incidental use of the wells cause the system to be recontaminated. Mr. Head stated that he did not think so, but the wells should be flushed before use. Mayor Green thanked Mr. Head for the report and stated that City Council now has a good deal of information to develop a program to address the brown water problem. CONSIDER RESOLUTION 98 -07 -14.1 APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF THE TELECABLE FRANCHISE FROM TEXAS TELECABLE, INC. TO TCA HOLDINGS 11, L.P. Councilmember Luning made a motion to approve Resolution 98 -07 -14.1 approving the transfer of the telecable franchise from Texas Telecable. Inc., to TCA Holdings H. L.P., and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 14 1998 BOOK "S" 155 CONSIDER THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 Councilmember Davis made amotion to mmovethebudaet adjustments for the quarter ended 6- 30 -98. and Councilmember Luning seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 1998 TAX ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING $(63.60) AS RECOMMENDED BY GROVER COOK, CHIEF APPRAISER Councilmember Davis made a motion to approve the April Mav and June 1998 tax adjustments totaling $(63.60) as recommended by Grover Cook Chief Appraiser, and Councilmember James seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER BID 98 -16, REPAIR OF HALLCO WALKING FLOORS IN SOLID WASTE TRANSFER TRAILERS, TO TRINITY TRAILER SALES AND SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,123.99 Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve Bid 98 -16 repair of Hallco walking floors in the solid waste transfer trailers to Trinity Trailer Sales and Service in the amount of S27,123.99. and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER TRANSFER OF $280,000 FOR STREET PAVING ($234,000 FROM GENERAL FUND UNALLOCATED RESERVE AND $46,000 FROM THE 1987 BOND MONEY) Mr. Wilder stated that staff is requesting to transfer funds for street work. Last year in our street program, few overlays were done due to the lack of available materials, but during that time many streets were prepared for paving. At the end of last fiscal year, $140,000 in street maintenance monies were returned to the general fund. This fiscal year, the hot, dry weather and the availability of asphalt has allowed the street department to pave more streets than was anticipated. All the available funds for street maintenance have been expended, leaving a considerable number of streets ready for paving. To continue the paving program, staff is recommending the transfer of $280,000 to the street maintenance budget. Councilmember James made a motion to transfer $280,000 for street paving (234,000 from General Fund unallocated reserve and $46.000 from the 1987 bond money) and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT Consider appointments to various Boards and Commissions: a) Huntsville Lay Representative to the Houston Area Library System - appoint Margie Delbert; b) Parks Advisory Board - appoint Mac Woodward; c) Sister City Council - appoint Steve Bullard, reappoint Scott Bumbaugh, Rick McFarland and Nancy Waldron; d) Huntsville Public Library Board - appoint Nancy Wilson and Susan Wilkins; e) Huntsville Housing Authority Board - appoint Helen Watkins, reappoint Mercedes Loupe and Stanford Douglas; and f) Employees Medical Health Plan Board of Directors - reappoint Ron Lange. Councilmember Matthews made a motion to approve the apnointments listed above to various Boards and Commissions as recommended by Mayor Green and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Discuss arterial streets plan, financing, design, construction, and timetable. 'j Mayor Green gave an overview of how the City developed the arterial street plan. Mayor Green stated that there are some improvements on the east side that the City is planning that will improve the flow (i of traffic, but the majority of the plan is on the west side. Mayor Green showed how, if the west side was a clean slate, an arterial i itroad would be developed to connect to the five overpasses on Interstate 45. There is not a clean slate on the west side, and we have to work with the following constraints - a prison unit, a hospital, Spring Lake subdivision, Tall Timbers subdivision and Elkins Lake subdivision. These represent constraints that limit the options for the arterial system. The City Council, staff and Iii engineers have attempted to develop an arterial street plan that will use the existing arterial streets that are in place, look for the i � possibility of building additional places to cross, and to not disrupt any more than necessary the existing constraints. Mayor Green stated that there are some residents who object to portions of the plan. City officials have met with the Elkins Lake Recur, who object to the portion of the road the effects their golf course plan. City officials will continue to make suggestions and proposals to alleviate their concerns. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 14, 1998 BOOK 'S" 156 Mayor Green stated that included in the arterial plan, to enhance the east side traffic, is the extension of F.M. 1374 to Bowers Boulevard. The City may also try to connect Collard Street to the Interstate. Mayor Green proposed that Council adopt the plan, recognizing that there area few problems to be worked out. Also to be adopted are the financing plan and a timetable for completion. The plan is approximately a $12 million package and the City will be proposing a $.05 tax increase. The $.05 tax increase will pay for $5 million, and the City will reallocate funds in the budget to pay for the $7 million remaining. The City has some debt that will be retired in the next few years and with the economic growth, it is anticipated that the entire $12 million can be financed with only a $.05 tax increase. Councilmember Luning stated that he felt that this plan will help not only the west side residents, but would greatly enhance the east side residents ease of traffic flow. Councilmember Lunine made a motion to adopt the arterial streets plan as presented by Mayor Green, including the financing, and timetable, and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Consider allocation of funds necessary for Councilmembers to attend the TML Region 14 Fall Meeting. Mr. Pipes stated that this item will be on the next agenda and asked Councilmembers to let the City Secretary know if they will be attending this meeting. 4. Consider approval of request by the Chamber of Commerce for allocation of$5,540from the Toutism reserves for additional advertising and postage costs. Councilmember James made a motion to approve the allocation of $5,540 from the Tourism reserve as requested by the Chamber for additional advertising and postage costs and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Announcement of Advanced Polymer Technolgoies, Inc., facility plans in Huntsville and consider their request for: a) an annexation moratorium; and b) water service along SH 75 South. Councilmember Lange expressed his excitement about the plans of Advanced Polymer Technologies to work with the Sam Houston State University chemistry department. This relationship will be a great step for this community. Mr. Bounds stated that the moratorium should be brought back in the form of an ordinance. Mr. Pipes stated that there are monies in the line item budget for economic development that could be allocated for the water extension. Staff will look at these monies and cost estimates and come back to City Council with a formal recommendation on the utility extension. Councilmember Lange made a motion to direct staff to come back with an annexation moratorium ordinance and a contract for extension of utilities on SH 75 South, and Councilmember Luning seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Mayor Green recognized former Councilmember Paul Knox in the audience. COUNCILMEMBER ACTION Government Finance Officers Budget Presentation Award for FY 1997 -98. Councilmember Davis stated that the City has received the Government Finance Officers Budget Award for FY 1997 for its distinguished budget. He congratulated Patricia Allen and staff for this honor. Council Chamber Renovation. Councilmember James congratulated staff on the renovation work in the Council Chamber. Victor Lange. Councilmember James congratulated Councilmember Lange on his son, Victor's appointment to the Annapolis Military Academy. Entergy /Gulf States. Councilmember Luning stated that it appears we are very close to a final order from the PUC on the Entergy /Gulf States rate case. The PUC has acted favorably for the cities and consumers on their results and findings. This order should result in rebates back to June 1996 and rate base reductions. These are scheduled to go into effect the first of August and rebates should begin in August or September. Councilmember Luring stressed the need for cities to maintain involvement in utility rate issues as long it is a regulated industry. I INCIL MEETING OF JULY 14, 1998 BOOK "S" 157 Thanks to Councilmember Luring. Councilmember Lange thanked Councilmember Luning on behalf of City Council on the fantastic job he did in representing the City in the Energy /Gulf States issues. Charter Revision Committee. Councilmember Matthews stated that it has been some time since the Charter has been reviewed, and requested that the Mayor appoint a Charter Review Committee with two members from the Personnel Committee and two from i the Finance Committee to make recommendations to the full Council. Mayor Green stated that there are provisions in the Charter for the appointment of a review committee and he would look at appointing a committee for the recommendations to be on the May 1999 ballot. �j Mayor's Arterial Street Presentation. Councilmember Matthews thanked the Mayor for his presentation on the arterial street plan earlier. It was an excellent presentation and inspired confidence in the plan. MEDIA INQLTRIES None. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Green recessed into Executive Session to discuss: [7:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.] a) pending litigation - Entergy /GSU rate case and franchise agreement audit, Philp, Townsend; and b) real estate acquisition - 14'" Street right -of -way lot and Avenue F/W56; right -of- -way extension. zlu_�����- Dams Welter, City Secretary