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MIN CC 07/27/1993CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 27, 1993 BOOK 'R" 215 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 27TH DAY OF JULY, 1993 IN THE CITY HALL l ' CONFERENCE ROOM, 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: W. H. Hodges, Mayor Officers: Dan S. Davis Harold L. Norton Gene Pipes, City Manager William B. Green JoAnn Matthews Scott Bounds, City Attorney Ronald L. Lange Ila G. Gaines Donna Welter, City Secretary Dave Luning ABSENT: Jim Carter INVOCATION Invocation by Councilmember Davis. 1 CITIZEN INPUTANQUIRY None. REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hodges called the meeting to order. CONSIDER MINUTES OF JULY 13, 1993 Councilmember Gaines made the motion to aoorove the minutes of July 13. 1993, and Councilmember Matthews seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. NOTE: Councilmember Carter absent. CONSIDER RE -BID OF THE SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION FACILITY John Wright, SCS Engineers, stated that there were no bids received for the transfer station facility. Challenges raised by contractors who received the bid documents and SCS's solution to these challenges are as follows: • Bid specs to complex -- Simplify documents. • Risk to contractors -- Clarify, shift risk. • Methane gas -- Clarify, shift responsibility. • Contractor questions -- Communicate directly. • Schedule -- Clarify, revise penalty. • Bid period -- Revise time frame. The revised bid documents for the transfer station will be available August 3, with a pre -bid meeting on August 9. The bids will be due on August 18 and will be awarded at the Council meeting of August 25. Construction is scheduled to begin on September 7 and under Option A, substantial completion November 9 with estimated completion December 31, 1993. Under Option B, estimated completion will be March 1, 1994. An alternate plan of using a conveyer and hopper is being contemplated if the October 9, 1993 date stands, or if the City chooses to go with Option B. Mr. Wright stated that the bid documents sent out on the landfill closure were sent out prematurely. The documents have been withdrawn and are being re- written. These bid documents will be available on August 3, with a pre -bid meeting on August 9. The bids will be due on August 18 and will be awarded at the Council meeting of August 25. Construction is scheduled to begin on September 1, with completion estimated on February 1, 1994. The proposed rule setting forth the six month extension has been signed by Ms. Browner. This is a proposed rule and we are only 70 days away from October 9 (the time line for the proposed rate is slim). The proposed rule would delay the implementation of Subtitle D from October 9, 1993, to April 9, 1994, if. 1) landfill receives less than 100 tpd [City would qualify], 2) State has submitted approval package [Texas has not yet submitted], and 3) site is not on Superfund NPL [City qualifies]. Monitoring wells may be required. Mayor Hodges asked that SCS given the bidders as much time as possible to complete the bid documents. CONSIDER FUNDING OPTIONS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT Mayor Hodges stated that he has prepared three options regarding the inequitable tax burden that exists in the three -way jurisdictional - E.M.S. funding agreement. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 27, 1993 BOOK "R" 216 Option 1 Withdraw from the E.M.S. Interlocal Agreement with Walker County and The Walker County Hospital District with funding j ' to cease effective September 30, 1993. C Option 2 Withdraw from the E.M.S. Interlocal Agreement with Walker County and the Walker County Hospital District with decreased funding to $69,417 effective October 1, 1993, and cease funding on October 1, 1994. Option 3 Withdraw from the E,M.S. Interlocal Agreement with Walker County and the Walker County Hospital District and decrease subsidy funding by 50% effective December 31, 1993, and cease funding effective December 31, 1994. The City would be amenable to renegotiating the E.M.S. agreement to provide administrative oversight or other in -kind services that may be desirable to ensure the continuation of quality services to our community. effective December 31. 1994, and Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. Councilmember Liming stated that he felt a shorter time line would be in order. A vote was taken. The motion passed 7 -1 [Councilmember Liming voted againstl. CONSIDER REQUEST TO CLOSE OLD COLONY ROAD THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS WITH CONSTRUCTION OF GOODRICH DRIVE EXTENSION (CITY PARTICIPATION); AND ABANDONMENT OF AVENUE I FROM 7TH TO 8TH STREETS THROUGH THE MANCE PARK J. IL CAMPUS AS REQUESTED BY H.I.S.D. Charles Wagamon, President of the H.I.S.D. Board, stated that H.I.S.D. is requesting that the City close Old Colony Road through the Huntsville Junior High campus and participate in the extension of Goodrich Drive; adjust the location of the right -of- ways''. to fit the present street alignments on the Mance Park Junior High campus; and close Avenue I from 7th to 8th Street through the M.P.J.H. campus. Mayor Hodges asked staff to bring to Council at the next meeting the cost estimate for the City's participation in the street . extension of Goodrich Drive. Mayor Hodges directed City Attorney Scott Bounds to prepare ordinances for closing a portion of Old'', Colony Road and a portion of Avenue I to be brought back to Council at the next meeting. Mayor Hodges suggested that a publicl. hearing on the street closings be held at the next meeting. CONSIDER ORDINANCE 93 -7 -27.1 AMENDING THE CITY PERSONNEL POLICIES TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE COMPLIANCE unanimously. CONSIDER A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH WISENBAKER, FIX & ASSOC., FOR MANDATED PERMIT MODIFICATIONS TO THE A. J. BROWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY CONSIDER BID TO PLUG AND ABANDON WATER WELL #16 TO WEISINGER WATER WELL, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,800 Councilmember Norton made the motion to approve the bid to plug and abandon water well #16 to Weisinger Water Well Inc., in the amount of $9.800, and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL OFF- STREET PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT WITH FIRST NATIONAL BANK Mr. Schindler stated that staff recommends entering into an agreement for additional parking for the downtown district with First National Bank. The lot is located beside First National Banks' drive thm area. There is no cost for the use of the lot, but the City,1 will maintain (repair chug holes and restripe) the lot. Twenty spaces will be allocated for County employees. „ 0 L CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 27, 1993 with First National Bank and Councilmember Lange seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion Passed unanimously. BOOK "R' 217 CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO UTILIZE A PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCY TO COLLECT OVERDUE FINES FOR MUNICIPAL COURT Mr. Schindler stated that Municipal Court would like to enter into a professional services agreement with a reputable firm with no cost to the City. The firm will retain a percentage of the overdue fines collected. If there is no objection, an agreement will be brought back to Council at a future date. CABLE UPDATE Mr. Bounds stated that the deadline for filing a certification form has been extended until September 1, 1993. The FCC isii !t still making decisions with regard to investigative rules of the telecable system. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT 1. Fish Hatchery Sewer Request. Mayor Hodges stated that he feels that the City should consider installing sewer service in the Fish Hatchery area. He requested that staff obtain a preliminary engineering estimate on the costs to provide this service. CITY COUNCILMEMBERACTION None. MEDIA INQUIRIES Janet Dial, Huntsville Item asked the history behind the Interlocal Agreement for E.M.S. Service. Mr. Pipes stated that E.M.S. has evolved over the last twenty yews from a funeral home ambulance service to a service operated out of the Emergency Room to an organization that was originally shared by the City and County on a 50 -50 basis. The Hospital District began participating approximately five years ago, with the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 basis entered into approximately two years ago. The equity issue was always regarded simply on face (value). The sensitivity surfaced last year when Mayor Hodges noted that the City residents pay more than their share for the service. ADJOURNMENT J Danna Welter, City Secretary