MIN CC 01/07/2003CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 7, 2003 BOOK —r'
MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2003, 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 a regular session with the following members present:
COUNCILMEMBERS: Mark Erb
OFFICERS:
William B. Green, Mayor John Escobedo
Bob Hart, City Manager
Jack Choate Vance Howard
Paul Isham, City Attorney
Gary Crawford Judy Kayse
Danna Welter, City Secretary
Ralph A. Davis, Jr. Steed Smith
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING [4:36 - 5:01 p.m.]
Overview of the Asset Management Software Workshop (Synergen and New World) and financing options.
RECONVENE JANUARY 6, 2003 MEETING [5:20 - 5:30 p.m.]
Mayor Green reconvened the special meeting recessed at 12:45 a.m. January 7 and presented written findings of the
deliberations relative to the termination appeal of Jewel McAdams.
Councilmember Howard made a motion to aoorove the written findinas of the termination appeal of Jewel McAdams:
and Councilmember Kayse seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Note: Councilmember Choate abstained
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from voting as he did not participate in the proceedings due to a conflict of interest.
ADJOURNMENT [5:30 p.m.]
REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER [5:20 p.m.]
Mayor Green called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to US AND TEXAS FLAGS, INVOCATION
City Manager Bob Hart led the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING on PROPOSED RE- ZONING [5:18 p.m. — 5:21 p.m.]
Note: Councilmember Crawford was absent from the meeting from this time.
1. John Strickland. Mr. Strickland complained that the map is difficult to read without the changes highlighted. Mayor
Green stated that this hearing is regarding the newly annexed areas.
PUBLIC HEARING on PROPOSED RE- DISTRICTING [5:18 p.m. — 5:21 p.m.]
1. John Strickland. Mr. Strickland complained that the map is difficult to read without the changes highlighted.
Scott Murray, City Planner, explained the maps. The redistricting changes are made to make sure all the wards
are numerically balanced with a deviation of not more than 5 %, not counting inmates. With the exception of the annexed
areas; Ward 3 did not have any changes; Ward 2 now incorporates 201" Street (instead of the previous 19`" Street) and
an additional area around Avenue L; Ward 4 will change along the 75 S /Montgomery Road area to IH-45. Ward 4 had a
large population increase and also contains a large number of students. Ward 1 has shrunk by one block. None of the
polling places have changed.
2. Charies Smither. Mr. Smither commented that the ordinance tonight refers to Exhibits A, B. C and D and asked if there
are such exhibits or is the map?
Mr. Isham, City Attorney, stated that the exhibits are the legal descriptions of the redistricted property lines.
3. Daniel Michael, Huntsville Item. How are students counted in the census?
Mayor Green responded that if theyre here, they're counted.
4. Bob Sablatura. Observer. Mr. Sablatura commented that for the last four days, he has been to City Hall twice and has
called City Hall at least twice to see the redistricting maps which were not available until 4:00pm today. He also
commented that the media has not had the opportunity to review the material and questions why the material was not
presented to the public, especially the minority community, in advance of tonight.
Mr. Isham apologized but could not comment on why the maps were not available. He also stated that regarding
the minority community, a conscientious effort was made to not reduce the minority vote in the Wards, and that the
minority community should not be adversely impacted by the redistricting. Mr. Isham stated that there is a requirement
that this matter be pre - cleared through the Department of Justice, but if the Council desired to delay this item until the
next meeting, the DOJ ruling should still come pdor to the election in May.
5. Mona Harrell. Ms. Harrell questioned why, with Ward elections coming up so soon, why redistricting is done nowversus
waiting until after the election.
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 7 2003 BOOK T 3
jj h I th t th C t f led t d' t
Mr. Isham responded that of er catizens cou d comp a a e y ai o re is ri o owing a census as
required by federal law and could contest the May election; and an overwhelming amount of the voting boxes will not
change, so for a substantial portion of the voters in this City, the voting boxes and the Ward elections will not change.
Mr. Isham stated that the County redistricted their precincts late last summer and the City desired to redistrict ourwards
at the same time, but the minority information was not available at that time so it was postponed.
6. Karl Davidson. Mr. Davidson questioned how the redistricting will impact early voting.
Mr. Isham responded that the redistricting should not impact early voting, and as the changes are minor and
organize the Wards with equal representation demographically, there is no reason to expect any rejection by the
Department of Justice.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve the minutes of October 8 and 28, November 19, and December 17, 2002 City Council meetings.
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Engineering Contract with Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates in the amount of
$148,000 for the design of the McGary Creek Force Main and Lift Station Improvements, to be funded from budgeted
funds.
3. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Engineering Contract with Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates in the amount of
$107,500 for the design of a wastewater collection system forthe Gazebo Road and Summer Place area, to be funded
from budgeted funds.
4. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Engineering Contract with Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates in the amount of
$22,500 for the design of a 24" radial waterline from the Palm Street Water Plant to Sam Houston Avenue, to be funded
from budgeted funds.
5. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates in the amount of $49,500 for the
design of improvements to the Palm Street and Spring Lake Water Plants, to be funded from budgeted funds.
Mayor Green stated that he would not read the entire Consent Agenda and requested that any Councilmember
merely ask to remove any item for discussion. Mayor Green also asked that Item 3 be tabled pending further discussion.
' Councilmember Howard made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of Item 3: and
Councilmember Erb seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Engineering Contract with Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates in the amount of
$107,500 for the design of a wastewater collection system for the Gazebo Road and Summer Place area, to be funded
from budgeted funds.
Councilmember Davis expressed concern that the City is not actively looking for proposals from otherengineering
consultants other than Wisenbaker, Fix and Associates. City Manager Bob Hart stated that most of the engineering
contracts are fairly standard and with their (Wisenbaker's) history with the City and their knowledge of our system our
costs are actually lower to utilize their services. The City does monitor the costs as compared to other companies'.
Mayor Green clarified the reason he pulled Item 3 is because the area that would be affected by that contract was not
annexed as anticipated, and he would prefer a discussion regarding the impact of that system be held prior to voting on
this issue.
STATUTORY AGENDA
Adopt Ordinance 2003 -01 -07.1 amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Huntsville, Texas to provide for boundary
changes to the zoning districts thereby adding the newly annexed areas in the Management classification.
In Octoberof 2002, the Planning and Zoning commission addressed the issue of zoning classification forthe newly
annexed areas as pursuant to state law. The land must be assigned a "zoning" classification. The three choices are
Management, Neighborhood Conservation or Downtown. The Commission heard public comments about the issue and
ruled unanimously in favor of assigning the areas to the Management classification. Management zoning allows for
almost any type of land -use.
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in the Management classification: and Councilmember Erb seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Adopt Ordinance 2003 -01 -07.2 redistricting Council wards by the addition and deletion of certain properties.
The US Department of Justice requires that all political wards be equally represented according to population and
II race. The recent annexation of land to the City requires that the City of Huntsville examine and realign its Wards to
achieve legal compliance. Adjustments to Ward boundaries were made to compensate for changes in the eligible
population and therefore brought all Wards into equilibrium. The US Census Bureau and the Texas State Data Center
j provided the raw data and maps for this process.
Data from the US Census Bureau and the Texas State Data Center were used to first calculate the current
j� population by "Census tracr and "Census block ". The County has 8 Census tracts, 7901, 7902, 7903, 7904, 7905,
7906, 7907, 7908 and hundreds of Census blocks. A Census block is the smallest unit of measurement that the
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 7, 2003 BOOK "T"
2.
Census Bureau uses. Data from the blocks were processed to determine the "eligible" population. Information on race is
also required and was tabulated into 8 ethnic groups. TDC inmates are not considered "eligible" and are therefore not
included in the process. The population of each ward was calculated at the block level. The "Ideal population" for each
Ward was determined to be: 6607. Federal law allows for a deviation of 5 % +/- for each wand. Adjustments, the
reassignment of certain blocks from one Ward to another, were made to achieve the legal and equal distribution of the
population. Minimal changes were made to existing Wards with Ward 3 receiving no changes.
MAYOR/CITY MANAGER ACTIVITY REPORT
City Manager Program /Project Status: j
a) Library Grant - we have received a foundation grant will allow to hire two part-time persons for the Library
at no cost to the City and with no future obligation;
b) Sidewalk Priority List - preparing bids for improvements; it was held up in order to possibly obtain some'i
grant funds, but found out that would not work; areas targeted are around SH 30, IH-45, and Hwy 190, '!
Bowers Blvd., and along MLK Jr. Drive, principally near HIS and HHS;
C) Park Board - continues to hold meetings on the Parks Master Plan updates, with the next meetings on
January 9 with the special interest groups and January 16 with organized sports groups.
Future Events:
January 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day- City Offices Closed
January 21 5:15 p.m. City Council Meeting
January 28 5:30- 7:OOpm Boards and Commissions Reception
February 4 5:15pm City Council Meeting - Call Election for May 3
February 7 -9 Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners (Austin)
February 10 TML Legislative Briefing (Austin)
February 18 5:15pm City Council Meeting
March 4 5:15pm City Council Meeting
March 7 -11 NLC Congressional Conference (Washington, D.C.)
March 25 5:15pm City Council Meeting
April 8 5:15pm City Council Meeting
April 18 Good Friday - City Offices Closed
April 22 5:15pm City Council Meeting
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Daniel Michael (Huntsville Item) introduced himself to Council and commented that much thought should be given to
classifying the zoning area, especially as a Management Zone, so growth of the City can be planned.
Bob Sablatura (Observer) commented that the Summer Place project was included as one of the projects that the $7
million bond issue. If there were concerns about the project, why was the money borrowed? Mayor Green responded that
Summer Place was to have been annexed to the City. Mr. Sablatura stated that the bond issue was after annexation. Mayor
Green responded the funds could be used for other projects.
RECESS - WORK SESSION [6:05 - 8:15 p.m.]
The City Council conducted a work session to be given an overview of the proposed Asset Management System by Synergen
and New World software systems representatives.
ADJOURNMENT [8:15 p.m.]
a J) I
Danna Welter, City Secretary
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