Minutes - 12/05/2017
MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 5 TH DAY OF DECEMBER 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, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez, Paul
Davidhizar, Tyler McCaffety, Keith D. Olson, Clyde D. Loll
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 Sara Cox of Huntsville High School 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 November 21, 2017. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant under the 2017 Texas Community Development Planning Program
from the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $55,000, plus $145,000 in matching funds. \[Dr. Sherry
McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources; Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic
Development\]
c. Authorize the City Manager for the purchase of a backhoe from Mustang Caterpillar, two dump trucks from Lonestar
Truck Group, and a pickup truck from Caldwell Country, for a total of $277,249.89. \[Daryl Uptmore, Public Works
Director\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to purchase two police-equipped motorcycles from Longhorn Harley Davidson and
police speed radars from Stalker Radar, in the amount of $62,060.70. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public
Safety; Billie Smith, Purchasing Manager\]
e. Authorize the City Manager to approve a contract with Companion Life for stop loss insurance coverage in the
amount of $239,202.00. \[Julie O’Connell, Human Resources Director\]
f. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with O’Malley Strand Associates, Inc. for professional
engineering services for AJ-12 Sub-Basins A, B, C, D, & E Sanitary Sewer System Evaluation and Rehabilitation
Design, Project No. 18-10-02. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
g. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Bleyl Engineering for professional engineering services
for Old Colony Road/Trinity Cutoff Waterline Rehabilitation Project No. 18-10-03. \[Y. S. “Ram” Ramachandra, City
Engineer\]
Councilmember McCaffety moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar.
The motion was adopted, 9-0.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to award
the purchase of Street Milling/Overlay services to Smith and Company in the amount of $1,091,809.00, second
reading. \[Daryl Uptmore, Public Works Director\]
Councilmember Davidhizar moved to authorize the City Manager to award the purchase of Street Milling/Overlay services
to Smith and Company in the amount of $1,091,809.00; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Olson. The motion
was adopted, 9-0.
5. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider nominations for City Representative
and Alternate to H-GAC for 2018. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
Mayor Brauninger moved that he remain the representative and Mayor Pro Tem remain the alternate. There were no other
nominations. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the sale of 1930A Sam Houston
Avenue \[Mayor Pro Tem Olson\]
Mayor Pro Tem Olson moved to consider the sale of 1930A Sam Houston Avenue; the motion was seconded by
Councilmember McCaffety. Without objection, Mayor Pro Tem Olson clarified his motion to read to move to direct City staff
to take all necessary steps to make part of the property located at 1930 A Sam Houston Avenue, Property ID #30286
(excluding the approximately 2,433 square-foot segment extending west and fronting Sam Houston Avenue) available for
sale to the public in accordance with state law, the City Charter, and the City’s purchasing policies; the motion was seconded
by Councilmember McCaffety. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
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, November 28, 2017.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no 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: The Emergency Management Coordinator and Dept. of Neighborhood Resources need your
help in creating the City’s new Hazard Mitigation Plan. Go to www.HuntsvilleTX.gov/Hazard by December 6 to fill out a survey.
There will be a public meeting in January. Call 291-5428 for more information. He also shared that he and his wife were
sponsoring a sixth grade science teacher, Amanda Stone, at Huntsville Intermediate School.
HISD Minute! (Mayor Pro Tem Olson) – We are very happy to congratulate the 7th Grade A Team Lady Hornets Basketball
Team on winning the Magnolia A Team Tournament this weekend – way to go, ladies!
CoH Clean Minute! (Councilmember Humphrey) – Eat ’em up, Kats! Congrats to the Bearkat football program for their successful
season. Thanks for helping keep Home Sweet Huntsville clean by being thoughtful about all the guests in our town this week
and weekend. With graduation and the playoff game coming up, it’s a prime time to display a clean and festive community!
The next Community Friendship Brown Bag Picnic will be on Thursday, December 14, at noon at the Sam Houston Memorial
Museum grounds near the Steamboat & Woodland Homes. Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and meet someone new in our
community!
Councilmember Rodriquez reminded all that applications for the 2018 HPD Citizens Police Academy will be available at the front
desk of the police department through Dec. 29, for sessions on Monday nights from January to April 2018. For more information
on this fun annual program, please contact Officer Ryann Kaaa-Bauer at 291-5493.
Councilmember Emmett announced that girls in grades 6-8 should register online for the Huntsville Public Library’s free Girls
Who Code Club! It starts January 4 and space is limited. Call 291-5485 for more information.
Councilmember Davidhizar said the American Legion Auxiliary is looking for veterans and veteran families who need a Christmas
dinner. They are assembling dinner baskets and Christmas gifts. Contact Leigh-Anne Stewart at 295-0700.
Councilmember Loll said congratulations are in order for Lieutenant Col. David Yebra, SHSU’s Emergency Manager for Public
Safety Services, who was recognized recently in San Diego along with SHSU President, Dr. Dana Hoyt. The American
Association of State Colleges and Universities honored SHSU’s High Potential Employee Leadership Academy with the
Leadership Development and Diversity Award. Hats off to Col. Yebra for the success of this program and its example to others
like it across the country.
Mayor Brauninger recognized the Parks & Leisure Department for their win as Best All-Around in Saturday’s Lions Club
Christmas Parade.
Councilmember Humphrey thanked the Council for adopting Head Start families for donations for Thanksgiving and challenged
business owners to announce the same for Christmas dinners. Walter Boyd, Sr. announced the performances of The Nutcracker
at the Wynne Home. He also lauded Brenda Poe and the library staff.
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 551.072 – deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real
property, concerning Proposition 1 properties.
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 6:40 p.m
11. RECONVENE
The Council reconvened at 7:29 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:29 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary