Minutes - 07/15/2014
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 15 DAY OF JULY 2014, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:30 PM.
The Council met in a regular session with the following:
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish
Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________
WORK SESSIONS \[4:30 P.M.\]
a. Intern Makeebba Deterville will present the Charter Action Registry project.
b. Presentation of report on Transfer Station Feasibility Study. \[Carol Reed, Public Works Director\]
Councilmember Allen was not present for the workshops. SHSU Intern Makeebba Deterville explained her preparation of
a Charter Action Registry, the compilation of each of the ten Charter versions with comparative notes and research
references. Carol Reed, Director of Public Works, and consultants from J.R. Miller & Associates presented proposals in
relation to remodeling or rebuilding the transfer station.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 P.M.\]
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Montgomery gave an invocation and Connor and J.P. Chavez of the YMCA
led the pledges.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Karen Bilsing and Shannon Brown spoke on the risk of preventable disease and encouraged participation in the American
Heart Association Heart Walk.
4. 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 Regular Session held on July 1, 2014. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2014-36, amending Chapter 14 Business and Business Regulations, Article IV, Pawnbrokers, to
change the hours of operations of pawnshops, second reading. \[Chief Kevin Lunsford, Director of Public Safety\]
c. Adopt Ordinance 2014-38, amending the FY13-14 budget for the Solid Waste Cost of Service and Rate Design
Study. \[Carol Reed, Director of Public Works\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The
motion passed unanimously, 9-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a contract for the design and contract
administration of way-finding signage for the City of Huntsville (item postponed from July 1 meeting). \[Dr. Sherry
McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director\]
The motion to approve, from the July 1, 2014 meeting, was postponed to this meeting and is the pending motion. Jerry
DeWitt spoke in opposition to the expenditure, encouraging street repair instead. Councilmember Brauninger moved to
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postpone until the August 5 meeting and was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was adopted, 6-3,
Councilmembers Johnson, Olson, and Humphrey voting against.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the award of bid for the construction
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of Waterline Replacement Projects (Pleasant Street-Project #11-10-22; 9 Street–Project #12-10-25; and 18
Street–Project #12-10-26) and adoption of Ordinance 2014-40 for the associated budget amendment. \[Y.S.
Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Olson moved to authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract (base bid and alternate
bid) to 5-T Utilities, Inc. for Waterline Replacement projects along Pleasant Street (Highway 75 North to Old Madisonville
Road), 9th Street (University Avenue to Avenue J) & 18th Street (Avenue S to Avenue Q) in the amount of $166,630.11,
and adopt Ordinance 2014-40 for the associated budget amendment and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey.
The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the award of bid for the construction
of Kate Barr Ross Park 4-Plex parking lot, Project #07-10-34. \[Y.S. Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Paving Design
Plus, Inc. in the amount of $62,834 for Kate Barr Ross Park 4-Plex parking lot, Construction Project - #07-10-34 and was
seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
d. FIRST READING Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City
Manager to enter into a Chapter 380 agreement with BFI Crossroads, LLC, first reading. \[Aron Kulhavy,
Community and Economic Development Director\]
David Mulligan, Tarek Maalouf, Karl Davidson, and Charles Smither, Jr. spoke in opposition to the agreement.
Councilmember Brauninger asked that the agreement be reviewed for stronger requirements on local employment and
adherence to the agreement. Councilmember Johnson asked that all remember the City was not investing money or
giving money away but was rather agreeing to share sales tax receipts that were currently nonexistent. City Manager
Matt Benoit and Councilmember Olson confirmed the TIRZ incentives included a 50% rebate of sales tax and a 100%
contribution of property tax to the developer for significant infrastructure investment for a longer time, whereas this
agreement was a 50% rebate of both sales and property tax for five years. Jeff Brand of BFI Crossroads, LLC, outlined
the development of his proposal and confirmed he could not build without the agreement.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
City Engineer Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra updated the Council on the Town Creek Sanitary Sewer Replacement
Project Phase II Design.
7. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
No requests were submitted by noon on July 8, 2014.
8. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries.
9. 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 Woodward made the following announcements:
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Please make your nominations for the Walker County Big Tree Registry! Visit the Natural Preservation Ad Hoc
Committee page on the City web site.
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The Farmer’s Market continues! Every Saturday morning on the east side of the Square. Different products each week!
Councilmember Humphrey said the Pins for Pets bowling tournament for the Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter would be held July 26.
She also thanked everyone for working with the new provisions for citizen participation at Council meetings. Councilmember
Humphrey urged the public to email walkercounty.resources@gmail.com to help compile a community service/resource
directory. Councilmember Olson introduced Richard Dorun, a new resident who was a manager at the Olive Garden.
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Councilmember Humphrey announced the 35 anniversary of the hospital gift shop ribbon cutting on July 23 at 2:00 p.m.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Woodward, City Secretary