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MIN CC 07/03/1990MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 140 OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 3RD DAY OF JULY 1990 IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL , LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 6:15 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following members present one Monday 0. Eugene Barrett City officers present: ary Bell James L. Carter Gene Pipes, City Manager Is G. Gaines William B. Green Scott Bounds, City Attorney iLLi am L. Hammack Percy Howard, Jr. Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary iLLi am H. Knotts, Jr. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Monday called the formal session to order at 6:15 P.M. She than recessed the Council into an utive Session to discuss the posted topics. No other items were discussed. No formal action was taken. Council completed its Executive Session approximately 7:50 P.M. RECONVENE FORMAL MEETING Mayor Monday then reconvened the formal session. CounciLmember Barrett made the motion to approve CONSIDER MEADOWS FOUNDATION GRANT ' cept the Meadow's Foundation grant for $150.000 to support the Huntsville downtown revitalization plan Dr. Jack Staggs, representing the Huntsville Arts Commission, asked the Council to accept and prove the grant contract from the Meadows Foundation of Dallas. He said following the failure to secure e $150,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, they set about seeking money from several other undations. He said there was a favorable nibble from the Meadows Foundation, then a grant proposal, and on -site visit by one of their staff members was made; the Council has the results in the agenda packet night. Dr. Staggs referred to the budget and suggested an amendment for flexibility, under SPECIAL OJECTS where it Lists "Downtown Auditorium" to List instead: "Downtown facilities /improvements." He felt ey needed to keep as many options open as they can for the downtown work because same projects and ideas e not yet fully developed and members of the Arts Commission and representatives from other groups will bringing proposals to the Council for this particular area. Secondly, he said, there are various groups volved in this project and there will obviously be minor adjustments to the budget as they progress. In e meantime, he said, the City Council will need to come up with $26,000 for the remainder of this year and 00,000 in the budget for the next fiscal year. Dr. Staggs said they are pleased that the Meadows undation is offering assistance in the amount of $150,000 to the City. He said the overall project will quire the effort and cooperation of many people, but felt that in working together in a cooperative spirit ey can accomplish this project. He asked for their acceptance and approval of the grant contract as bmitted by the Meadows Foundation. Mayor Monday then entertained a nation to approve the contract. Councilmember Barrett made the Discussion: Councilmember Knotts asked if the City would be Limited as to what the city could spend , s $300,000 for under this grant as it would have been in the NEA grant. Dr. Staggs said the budget is etty well outlined, but the suggested change he made would give the city more flexibility. He said it is s understanding that the city would have more freedom with the Meadows Foundation than it would have had th the NEA grant, however, this is just a personal opinion. Councitmember Knotts said to approve this ant tonight, we are saying we will provide $300,000 over a three year period and we won't have control MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 31 1990 BOOK "0" 141 over how it is spent. Dr. Staggs said the Council will have fuLL control. CounciLmember Knotts said on the last proposal, specific items had to be funded with the money. He said he would rather see the city's money go to underground utilities, to complete the walks and do the Landscaping, rather than investing in an auditorium. Mr. Pipes said under Dr. Staggs' suggested amendment, instead of the downtown auditorium, he is recommending downtown facilities /improvements, which gives the city some flexibility. CounciLmember Knotts felt there needs to be more investigation before the city considers the old Town Theater for an auditorium, because he didn't think that building was structurally very sound. Mayor Monday said if this proposal is accepted, with Dr. Staggs' amendment, the Council will meet in a budget session each year to allocate money for specific projects. She said there will be proposals from groups about downtown facilities, white at the same time, there will be proposals for sidewalks, Landscaping and utilities. She said this council will sit together collectively and make the decision of where to spend those doLLars. She said Dr. Stagg's amendment gives the CounciL the flexibility to make those joint council decisions as to how to spend those dollars. CounciLmember Knotts said he didn't think the city should require owner participation to do the sidewalks, particularly if the city can go ahead and do it. He said they didn't require owner participation on 11th Street and he felt the city should do the whole Square that way. Mayor Monday said all of the Councilmembers' ideas and those of the Arts Commission members will be considered colt actively. CounciLmember Green asked about the role of the proposed budget. Mayor Monday said the things that are specifically delineated in the budget will be funded: the planners, the preparations, the artwork, the facades, etc. She said what is not specifically delineated will be downtown facilities / improvemnts, which is an open area and those dollars will be decided by this Council. CounciLmember BeLL noted than $88,000 is open, but the other $192,000 is Locked in. CounciLmember Knotts asked who is included in the personnel category under arts development /promotion for $54,300. Mayor Monday said this position will be funded because it is specifically spelled out. She asked Linda Pease to address the job description. Ms. Pease said this is for one person. She said it is envisioned that when the cultural planner arrives, they will discuss further what that job description should be, but it will be for someone to work with people in the downtown areas to develop the cultural and historical aspects of the downtown. Mayor Monday noted these dollars represent funding for three years. CounciLmember Bell noted then we are hiring a full-time staff person to essentially run the downtown project. Mayor Monday said this is correct and this person will work with and coordinate the downtown project for the length of this grant- -three years, for $18,000 per year. Mayor Monday said the cultural planner is a contract situation and is not permanent. She said the cultural planner will come in and spend two to six months, or however Long it takes, and then be gone - -it is not a staff person. The staff person is the one full -time arts development and promotion position for three years. CounciLmember Carter noted for $18,000, surety they will spend more than a couple of months and he would hope about six months. CounciLmember BeLL felt the Council should think seriously about whether or not it needs a $54,300 salaried position. He said his view may be limited and parochial, but he doesn't understand what this person will be doing to run the downtown project for three straight years as this is only a nine block area and this is a Lot of money and a lot of staffing for a relatively minor position. CounciLmember Hammock asked if we hadn't gone over this before. Mayor Monday said we have actually gone over it three times; the NEA grant twice and now again. CounciLmember Bell said we went over this when we were applying for the NEA grant and the clear understanding was that if the grant came through, we would talk this through, point by point, issue by issue; yes, we went over it, he said, but it was more in a generic sense to get it on the floor so that we could apply for the NEA grant. He said it seems to him the time has come now to talk seriously about individual issues as the Council said it would this spring if the NEA grant came through. He said this is his position. Mayor Monday said when the city reapplied, the Council accepted the same format. CounciLmember Bell noted however it was always understood that if the grant came through, the Council would go point by point in a debate situation and talk about each item, item by item. Mayor Monday called upon Dr. Staggs for a response. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 142 )r. Staggs said for at Least two years now the Arts Commission has been working on the idea of adding someone to this who has experience. He said they have identified a prospective person [cultural planner) in New Orleans who can advise the Commission. He said the Commission needs cuLturaL planning for a long range plan and this is part of what this person will be doing. He said they are interested in a Long -range plan and in someone who will help downtown get this project on schedule, and must have someone to do this. Mayor Monday said the thought is the downtown is a lot more than "bricks and mortar" and that the whole development of the artistic /cuLturaL center is a great deal more than that. She said the grant, as she sees it, does two things: 1) it does get the bricks and mortar down, but it also speaks to the irdividuaL who will then coordinate the cultural activities, the artistic activities, the performances, to alternate those activities downtown and to establish the artistic and cultural base which will then make downtown what we have been talking about, which is our cultural center. She said having the facilities themselves won't do it- -we'll have she[ Ls - -if we build the shells, we have to fill them with activity and that will have to be coordinated. She said we simply don't have someone to do that because everyone we have on staff has a full -time job. She reiterated that in order to make and coordinate this project, through the bricks and mortar phase, because they will work with that, and also to put the Life into it, to put the program in and coordinate those and get that established, is going to take another person, and we simply don't have that person on staff at the present time. Councilmember Gaines said it is difficult to get programs off the ground and it takes someone to coordinate these things. She said she has worked with the downtown area for some time and it just never has Ili gotten off the ground. She said if we are going to spend $300,000 to make downtown viable, it can sit there unless we have someone who can coordinate programs and promote it and is willing to make it work. She felt it very important to have someone who has expertise to do this. She said we can work on the facades, etc., ' but it will still be what it is today unless we have someone to help these people and they are willing to work with someone. Councilmember Knotts felt the private sector property owners should participate with this project and he asked how such they are going to contribute. Mayor Monday said they are going to be contributing by improving their buildings, but are not contributing to the salary of this coordinator. Councilmember Bell said he is not getting the vision. He asked what the downtown area is going to e doing in the way of cuLturaL activities and functions. Mayor Monday said some ideas are: art galleries ouLd be established and sponsor shows; there can be musical activities, theater participation, promotions ctivity; businesses will be brought in; we will enhance crafts and things that are done particular to this art of the country. She said we will see the whole thing and have an activities center where people would e coming downtown on a weekly basis and on the weekend. She said we will fill the downtown with ctivities, people, and attractors that will bring them down there; i.e., establish the programs. Once the rograms are established and the businesses are in -place and the promotions are established, after three ears, they become a part of the life of the community; than hopefully, they will be on their feet to run nd continue this type of activity that makes an area live, makes it an integral part, and makes it an ttraction. She said we are actuaLLy taking a shell and filling it with activity that is culturaLLy and istoricaLLy related and these are the types of things that makes an area live. She said once we put it in here one time, that is nice, but that does not give it its continuity - -we have to put it there, coordinate t, work with it, and do that until it gets on its feet. She said it is not dissimilar to the way the city s helping the museums get started. We are giving them a boost. She said this is getting the programs stablished in the downtown and then hopefully the cultural identify wilt be made. For instance, she eferenced Cranbury, which looks wonderful and is a great area, but it would be very little without ompLimentary businesses, the performing area, and all the things that happen down there; that is what is iving it its continual life and attraction. She said she feels this is very exciting because the city has ' he potential there now that it is going to get the physical improvements, and to look what it can bring here in three years to continue the Life downtown. In order to do it, she said, we have to get a person do D it. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 31 1990 BOOK "Q" 143 Councilmember Bell said the Granbury analogy is interesting and problematical because Granbury sits near Fort Worth which is a city of several million whereas our city is 16,000. Mayor Monday said but we are at close proximity to a similar city. Councilmember Bell noted that is true. The other thing he is having trouble with, he said, in spite of Dr. Staggs' suggested amendment, is that it looks like we are on a collision course with buying that theater; frankly, although he didn't say much when it first came up a year ago because he always understood they were going to talk about it in -depth later, he doesn't think the city should be in the business of buying that property. Mayor Monday said she certainly thinks that is legitimate. She said that theater property was sold, and it is now owned by someone else. She said it could be for sale again, but the new owners may be planning to put a restaurant in it. She said since it is off the market and there are business plans for that property, we are not talking about that theater tonight. She said this does not mean we may not be talking about a facility downtown, but we may not be talking about buying land but we may be talking about contributing to starting one very similar to what we are doing at the museums, which is just to contribute and help them get started and than back off. She said there are many, many different ways that we can do this. She said the reason for the amendnent tonight gives us the flexibility to do some other things other than an auditorium, such as landscaping, sidewalks, utilities, etc. She envisioned that as soon as this is approved, the Council will look at the first year funding and have a special work session during the budget discussions on nothing but downtown and how to facilitate the money on this grant, in looking at a three year plan, but specifically for next year. She said they will make those decisions collectively. She said she doesn't know what is out there or what kinds of offers the Council will receive, and it may not receive any. She said it is important that the Council understand they are not obligated tonight to any of these facilities - -it is a generic category that has been written in so that we do have some flexibility to do utilities, sidewalks, landscaping, theater, etc., but this is the only category that is negotiable. The rest of this grant is specific and we are contracting to it. Councilmeober Bell said he is inclined to vote against the motion because he is not sure he is ready to out in a $54,300 Position over a three Year period for doing work that is still rather nebulous or not terribly Pinned down. He said philosophically, it is a great idea, someone kind of revving up the downtown area, but the specifics are just a little vague to him. He said the Mayor has cited several things: music festivals - -he is not sure how a music festival would be staged in the downtown area with a facility. He said he supposes we could put it on the Courthouse lawn, but how many people would that attract. Arts Commissioner, Dr. Herb Muecke, said they had a proposal in the Arts Commission's last planning meeting some two weeks ago, from Mr. Jim Standefer, to get architectural plans for a Gazebo on the Courthouse Square, similar to the one near Pritchett Field; some of the ground work for this has already been done with the County. He said this is a distinct possibility and this would be a focal point for musical groups on the southeast corner, where there had historically been a Gazebo. Dr. Muecke then used, as an analogy, the YMCA, and the question as to why a director was needed there and why not just get the building and the equipment and let the kids play. He said after everyone talked about it, they decided they needed the human element because the bricks and mortar and the shell, as the Mayor said, are not enough to make it go. He said while they're not proposing a full -time position, they are proposing someone with expertise who has done these things, to came in to get us started. He said the Commission does sense an increased interest in the arts. He said he has been on the Commission some 7 -8 years, and in the last open meeting, they received the largest turn out of proposals they have had from the widest segment of the population. He said they now are trying to figure out how to encourage all the groups and touch all the bases with the funds available. He said the community theater is an example of an entity that received money up front and that has taken off and the citizens that were interested have carried the bell on their own. He felt the city should take a lot of pride in this. He said there are no guarantees here, but they honestly feel it is necessary. Councilmember Green said he can appreciate Councilmember Bell's problem with the personnel aspect. He said we are really talking about a full -time job and a cultural planner, which is a one time, probably part -time position. He said this expense is really $64,000 if we add benefits. He asked if there is a way to maintain some flexibility with regard to this and say that if this is needed that we can have full- or MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 144 t -time, he doesn't know whether a person is needed full -time for three years. Mayor Monday said the �xibility they have is to go ahead and pass this and then if we find that there is not a need or that it not a justifiable expense, we can go back for an amendment grant in that situation. Dr. Staggs said the �dows Foundation did not make a stipulation regarding this; NEA did and they were very definite. He said Commission feels it needs an outside consultant to come in to help them do long range planning. He said y can't tell CounciLmember Bell what the specifics of this is going to be in advance of that planning. said they don't have a job description - -and it will take meetings of many publics to develop this. He d the person will propose ideas and they will evaluate those ideas about the realism of whatever he or is proposing. He said the cultural planner is going to help write the job description. He said they i't write this until they work with that person who will be here. He said this is a one -shot proposition •r a period of time. He said some of them cannot continue to meet all the time on these things. He said doesn't know how many nights they have met in the last two years. He said it was their job to secure ids for the city to try to improve downtown. He said it would have to be in a matching fund situation and s is what they have worked to do and they have had these kinds of proposals almost before the Council for years. He said there will have to be adjustments in the budget. He said ail The Meadows' Foundation s is that we keep them posted on changes. He said we will send the changes immediately that instead of a intown auditorium, we would put downtown facilities /buildings or improvements. He said he does not ieve for a minute that this program will accomplish what it needs to accomplish without personnel. He d they would be kidding themselves. He said their option is whether or not they want to accept or ,rove this and then believe that everyone is acting in good faith. He said they don't want someone on s who is unneeded. Councilmenber Green said what he is asking for is that if they find they need someone part -time ' her than full -time, that we do have the flexibility to do that. Dr. Staggs said they could submit that a change, noting again the Meadows' Foundation asked in their letter that they be kept apprised of any urges we make. Counci Lmwmber Green said we are still committing to the total dollar amount. Dr. Staggs d that is correct, but we can keep as many options open as possible to keep the flexibility in the grant. me said so group will come up with some proposal for facilities; he didn't know where, but they are hoping will be in the downtown area. Councilmember Hammock believed we have to have someone coordinate the program because this is a half Llion dollar project. Mayor Monday noted they are looking at the facades being done between now and bruary or early next spring. Arts Commissioner Betty Hartong said they have had requests for $96,000 in oposals two weeks ago and it was really hard to say no to some of them. She said one thing they guarantee that when the downtown gets going and even while we are getting it going, anybody who gets Arts mission money is going to do something downtown, whether it be singing, dancing, etc., it is going to be wntown; i.e., the symphony is going to play downtown. Councilmember Howard said in some of the earlier ports, they talked about what the County might do and the city was going to take the leadership and the unty, the University, and also TDCJ, would enter into the big picture of making Huntsville a beautiful ty and he is Leaning on this idea. Mayor Monday noted it is to be an overall cultural plan and will voLve all of the elements of the community, a plan to which she is dedicated. She said the County is ing to be investing dollars in developing the Spring site. Councilmember Barrett congratulated the Arts Commission on working so hard for this project. He id while they were disappointed in not getting the NEA grant, he thinks this is better as we seem to be ving more flexibility. He said he appreciates their hard work and felt we need to spend the money on rsonneL as wait as mortar and brick. He said someone fresh coming into this community ui ll probably see ings that we wouldn't see as people who have been here all of our timx•. He felt we will receive fresh new ' eas from this person to get a program going. He said he thinks the other things will fall into place once get a good program going downtown. He said they are not going to quit on it and we are not going to quit the sidewalks. He said personnel is just as important as the mortar and bricks. He urged the Council to prove this project (grant) tonight. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "w" 145 CounciLmember Carter noted he also appreciates the hard work and the grant, but we should not forget that the city is investing twice as much money and this is where they are paying a great deal of attention. He said we are talking about us spending $300,000 of the taxpayers of the City of Huntsville vs. The Meadows Foundation's $150,000. He said he hopes we will get a fresh new person into the City of Huntsville, but he didn't think we would attract anyone in here from the outside for an $18,000 a year salary. Mayor Monday noted that is the salary for the cultural planner, not for the permanent position. Councilmember Barrett said the cultural planner will make the recommendations. Councilmember Carter noted this coordinator will probably come from the City of Huntsville because we are not going to attract someone for $18,000 to move here and take this position. He noted the City has already paid Dee McFarland, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, out of the Tourism Budget about $18,000 and he wondered where her services will fit and what her job will be and what relationship that budget will have to what is going on downtown. He said he expects Dee to be involved in developing some of the activities that go on downtown, which would mean we might be spending $36,000 a year. Mayor Monday noted the Tourism budget is a totally separate budget. She said this council handles that budget every year and it has the opportunity to speak to that budget at budget time. She said this year the Tourism budget is certainty very full and productive and it was a wonderful year with the dollars allotted to it. She said the two budgets are totally unrelated unless perhaps the activities under the downtown program would be promoted through the tourism budget. Councilmember Carter said he does not agree that they stand totally separate because he is curious if they are paying Ms. McFarland to promote tourism; j and the position he hears being described sounds Like a tourism position and it sounds Like someone who is going to be bringing activities to attract people downtown, which is tourism activity. Mayor Monday said nothing would prohibit this group from applying to the tourism council as anyone can. Councilmember Carter said he is referring to what Ms. McFarland already does or should be doing to help the city downtown. He said we are going to have two people to work for the downtown. Mayor Monday said if proposals were made to the Tourism Council, Ms. McFarland could work with those specific events, but she has a full -time job as it is. Councilmember Carter noted then we cannot expect anything from the Chamber or Dee McFarland with regard Hto downtown activities. Mayor Monday said as a personnel position, no; as support with dollars and promotion, yes, as they can apply like anyone else to the Tourism Council for assistance. Counci Imember Carter noted then Ms. McFarland will not have responsibi L i ties for promoting the activities that go on downtown. Mayor Monday said as a personnel position, Dee McFarland has a full -time job, but there is nothing that would prohibit groups with any event that is going on downtown from applying to the Tourism Council for funds for promotion, just as other groups in town do on a regular basis. She said there is nothing to prohibit those dollars from being used in the promotion of those events and advertising, because indeed there are dollars set aside for that very purpose. Councilmember Carter said he still thinks he hears that we have a position downtown that will not be promoting, but only coordinating - -are we going to have two promoters and have Ms. McFarland promoting activities downtown and the new person promoting activities downtown. Ms. Linda Pease, Downtown Project Coordinator, advised they envision the person who will coordinate the downtown activities to be someone who can keep a balanced view of our citizenry as well as that of a potential tourist that might visit. She said we have a rich cultural and historical past and we have a rich cultural present. She said we want to bring that out and highlight the various ethnic groups and how they contribute to our community once a year at the Folk Life Festival and it is very important that people feel good about working together. She said we are able to see a little glimpse of the culture of various groups that are here. One of the things they are hoping to do, and encouraged to do by the National Endowment of the Arts, she explained, is to do something that brings about art for every ethnic or cultural group in a central location where people have easy and low cost to free access to the quality things of life. She said as wonderful as it is to be in a University town, and as reliant as we are and grateful for the facilities and events on the college campus, the desire has been to be able to have some things like the things that are there; i.e., performances, music and good things for people to see and do in the downtown area or in another area. She said the Arts Commission has been working with various groups to ask if we can make the downtown a cultural center, historically, in the arts, to develop an arts studio, etc. She said one of the MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "G" 146 gs that the Arts Commission funded for example this year, for a project for next year, is an hispanic ram at one of the art galleries that has, in the past, done a nice job of bringing the arts, but has not an opportunity to do a great deal in terms of ethnic or cultural diversity; this year they will be ig a project in which we expect to see some of the people that were on an original inventory list erring sending folk artists in this area. She said when we had that survey down, the people who came in the outside who do this all over Texas, said that we have the richest area for folk art in the State of s with the one exception being the Beaumont -Port Arthur area. She said we don't always know how to unicate with those people and to really see those arts. She said we try to have representatives from r groups on the Commission. The Commission set a goal a few years ago of trying to have more cultural diversity in the program, e noted, and at the time that goal was set, they had no proposals from the Black community for arts and no oposals from the hispanic community for the arts. This year, she said, they had two proposals from the ack community and two from arts groups from the Hispanic community. She said they feel this is a major ep forward, but it is only a tip, because the rich arts from all of the various cultures that make up ch an important part for the life of the people, don't always offer that to everyone and they do not lebrate them. She said this person will be someone who will be right down there saying we can do this and it is will enliven our culture here and we can have these kinds of exhibits; if people want to start an art Llery, we can put them in touch with other people and we can promote the things that we have now and we n try to bring the arts for everyone to the Huntsville community. She said for people who cons in there 11 be great opportunity for that cooperation that she hears CounciLmember Carter asking about between the ty's offices and the Chamber's offices, because she would expect the city will be developing the project d putting together ideas for promotion, and the Chamber, could promote those things for people who are ming in from the outside the city- -this would then present a marvelous opportunity to work with them. Ms. Pease said they receive many questions with which they could proceed if they just had the time; e., what colors should 1 use, what about the pigeons downtown; what would happen if we all wanted to stay an late; what are the o le next door pe p going to do; how do we work together with the University; how can get students down here, etc. She said sometimes it is a matter of keeping files and having someone talk them in the meetings and say how about this. We can help them with that and someone else can help them th something else, etc., and someone who is not involved in one specific area can bring all of this gether. She said it is vital to have someone who really sees the opportunities for our cultural and storicaL development. Councilmember Carter said he sees that we have Linda Pease who does a fine job of promoting the ty, identifying projects and programs, festivals and fairs, arts, and he sees that we have Dee McFarland o has as a part of her job, as he understands it, to do the same thing. He said and now we are talking out hiring a third person to do again those same sorts of functions. He said maybe it is true that Linda ase and Dee McFarland are so over - worked and overwhelmed with the things they have to do now that we need hire that third person. He said he feels a little bit like Councilmeobers Green and BeLL in that he is ving a hard time understanding what this person will do full -time just downtown in the City of Huntsville. said he is not saying it is a bad thing that they might not find some activities that would be beneficial downtown. He said he may be limited in his vision - -he isn't sure what he would do full -time in downtown ntsville some 365 days a year. He said it seems a little bit questionable to him. He said he would like offer a suggestion he thinks Councilmember Green offered a moment ago, which is that we can put the money to this budget - -the 864,000- -which is about 20% of the total 8300,000 that they will be putting up, and ve that amount in the budget without necessarily specifying that this has to be spent on this position and an we can be open to that position being created when it is demonstrated, after the cultural planner ' mes, that there is enough activity and there are reasons to spend the money in that way. He said it esn't mean we have to say no tonight because we can have the money in the budget. He said the Meadows undation hasn't put the kind of rigid requirements on the grant that the NEA did, and then when the Mural planner comes in and we see that we need that position, then we can fund that position, hire the rson and then we'll have a demonstrated need for it. He said this would be his suggestion to handle it MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "C" 147 this way - -let the money be in the grant, but Let's not tie it down to the position until the cultural planner has been here. Mayor Monday noted the notion for approval this evening includes the position. The cultural planner would come then and define that job description, and at the time that is proposed to us, because it would have to be approved with this council, if we felt that it should be half -time or full -time, or if we feel it should be one year instead of two, or if we found in the second or third year that it needed to be cut back or not approved, we could, at that point, amend it. But by not doing it at this point, then we would have to wait for the cultural planner to come, etc., and it would delay the program. Councilmember Carter made the motion to amend the motion on the floor to have in the budget the amount of money that would be available for this position but that it not be "specifically" designated for that position and that this position then be defined by the cultural planner, and then at that point if the Council sees there is a demonstrated need- that the Council fund that Position COUnciLmember Bell seconded the motion. Discussion: Mayor Monday spoke against this motion because she felt it speaks against the spirit of this grant. She said the City, in good faith, went to the Meadows's Foundation with this proposal in -tact and felt to delete the very element they asked for will change the character of the grant, and felt it would handicap the city. CounciLmember Bell spoke in favor of the motion by correcting an impression that may ihave been conveyed. He said the tenor of what occurred is that if people are querying individual items, t that they are somehow antagonistic to the grant. He stressed, especially to the Arts Commission and to his fellow councilmembers, that he is quite excited about getting $150,000 and he is tremendously grateful for the time and effort the Commission members devoted to obtaining this grant. He said he personally feels it is time to spend this kind of money in the downtown area; however, the City needs to look very closely at how that money is being spent. He said as CounciLmember Carter noted, the Meadows' Foundation is giving us $150,000, but the City is providing $300,000 in taxpayers' money. He said they do, as a city council, have an incredibly important responsibility of overseeing how that money is spent. He said while he favors spending the $300,000 and accepting the $150,000, he does, as a watchdog committee and as a public irepresentative, want to be absolutely sure of how the money is being allocated and; he reiterated, he was told and has been told and remembers very prominently because he made very strong mental notes, that the City was going to apply for this grant from a number of different sources and while these were generic proposals of how these grant monies ought to be spent, there would come a time some time in the future - -and he was Led to believe it would probably be in the spring of 1990- -that the Council would talk in -depth and at great length about exactly how the money was going to be spent, that it was okay, it was a hurry -up deal as we had to met a deadline last fall for the NEA grant; we whisked it through, but we were going to talk it out in some detail when the NEA grant cane through, or subsequently, if the Meadows' Foundation grant came through. He said he feels this is precisely what this Council ought to be doing now. He encouraged the Council to support the nation only because there is a fairly high degree of discomfort on the part of some people on the Council with a new position being allocated for that particular purpose. Mayor Monday spoke to counter this view to state this is exactly the nature of this. She said the Council is simply going to be signing a contract and sending it back to Meadows. She said when we send a contract back to Meadows with two major elements altered, she did not know if they would accept it as the spirit of the grant or not; it could potentially cost the City $150,000. If, however, we send it back as it is proposed on the original motion, she said, with the one change from "downtown auditorium" to downtown facilities /improvements," and with this position in place -- understanding that once the definition is there --we can then move to amend it at a later date, then we still keep the sprit of the grant in -place at this time and the proposal Councilmembers Carter and Bell made originally. She says this still gives us the flexibility Later on, once the cultural planner is here, and we've had experience after a year, to then amend the grant at that point, based on experience. She said this keeps the integrity of the grant in -place at this time and this is vital. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "O" 148 Councilmember Gaines said the Council is conscious of this money and it still has control over it and is being responsible it. She said the Council can still control this personnel job and how that money is spent. She said if this grant is approved, the Council can always ask for a change as the needs arise. She said they are going to have to have a person to direct this project if it is going to work. She said it is not going to work if we just put it out there and don't have someone in charge of it. She said the Mall is a good example- -they opened the Mall but they have a full -time person on staff all the time to direct the activities of that Mall. There are businesses out there, she said, but that MaLL would have never succeeded this long as far as it has unless they had someone to coordinate, to see to it that things were moving as they should, to promote it, to advertise it. She said we really need this - -it is very essential; we are talking about big business here and not penny anty type things. She felt the Council is being responsible with this grant and she wants to be. She felt the Commission has done a wonderful job in bringing this opportunity to the Council and the Council owes them the opportunity to work with it in every way possible. ConciLmember Knotts felt that once this is voted in, that is the way it wilt be. He said they were told and he thought, after the NEA grant was Lost, that even with it, we would discuss it prior to any voting. He said he saw this information Friday night and they are being asked to vote on it tonight, with the specifics. Conci Lmember Knotts said he would Like to have the opportunity to discuss all of this before the night when it is to be voted upon. Mayor Monday said this specific job with a specific description will come back to the Council and if, at that time, this Council decides to amend it to part -time position, and if, within the three year period, it feels it is not needed and should be deleted, the opportunity is there for this Council to act to amend it simply by notifying the Meadows Foundation. She said they are not giving up their flexibility at all. She said the Arts Commission has spoken to the fact that the flexibi Lity is there.CounciLmember Barrett said he has faith in the Arts Commission. He felt , we could lose this grant if we make a change like this. He said he is against the amendment to the original nation. it Councilmember Green said the impression that may be presented here is that we haven't had an opportunity to look at this. He said of course we have - -this is not the first time we've looked at this budget. He said his comments may have been out -of -place because he knows they have discussed this at least two other times previously. Mayor Monday noted they held a work session in Lengthy detail. Counci lmember Green said this has been discussed and we have gone over this in great detail. He said there is no question on most of this, but if we can get some aspects done for a Little less, then there may be some money we can use somewhere else. He said he may have left the wrong impression in his discussion. He just wondered if there were a way that the CounciL could make this more flexible. He said he does not object to spending the money doing that, if in fact it is needed, but he just hates to lock it in if there were a way of having flexibility. He said the Mayor has demonstrated there is flexibility. He said ail we have to do, if we feel the money could be better spent somewhere else after this is approved, is ask for a change. He said he does not see a problem in passing it the way it was originally presented. CounciLmember Bell wished to correct the impression that he considers the Council irresponsible -- indeed they are not irresponsible. He said he is uncomfortable with voting public monies for a position that is yet to be defined for activities that are yet to be spelled out. He said he would Like to be able to be a Little more precise before he commits to $300,000 of the city's money for that particular activity. Mayor Monday said the Council is not committing to 8300,000 to that specific activity - -they are simply tonight agreeing that there will be a position and that it will be funded up to a certain amount over a three year period. However if the job description comes back to the Council for approval, this position will come back to the Council for approval, and the Council will have the option to alter that position, that job description, the amount, or even the fact that it exists, by amendment. CounciLmember Barrett ' noted if that is not flexibility, what is? Mayor Monday then asked for a vote on the motion on the floor to delete the position as specified at this time. to leave the generic amount in but not specifically designated to this position. Councilmembers Carter. Bell and Knotts voted for this motion: Councilmembers MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "g" 149 Mayor Monday then entertained a vote on the principal notion, which is to accept this grant as amended, with the amendment readina "downtown facilities /improvements." Discussion: Councilmember Bell requested an opportunity to discuss the principal motion. Councilmember BeIL then made the motion to table the original motion. He felt there was a procedural problem here about which he has been troubled for a number of years. He said he really does not think it is appropriate to bring up essentially a $300,000 spending item, show it to the Council on Friday and ask them to vote on it on Tuesday. He said he would Like to spend another week exploring the parameters, discussing the alternatives, getting a comfortable feel for how the people downtown are reacting to this, talking to the Arts Commission and getting a feel for what their concepts and insights are on this. He said he would like to see them, as a Council, move away from the attitude, the process, of proposing things one week and then voting on them the following week. He asked that this motion be tabled as a matter of courtesy. Councilmember Knotts seconded the motion. Upon a vote on the motion to table. CounciLmembers Knotts and Bell voted for and Councilmembers Hammock Barrett, Gaines, Howard, Carter and Green and Mayor Monday voted opposed. The motion to table failed by a vote of 7 to 2. Mayor Monday then asked for a vote on the oriainaL motion to adopt the Meadows Foundation Grant as proposed with the one amendment from "Downtown Auditorium" to "Downtown Facilities/Improvements." CounciLmembers Hammack, Barrett, Gaines, Howard. Carter and Green and Mayor Monday voted for the orioinal motion as amended and CounciLmembers Knotts and BeLI voted "Opposed" to the motion. The motion Passed by a vote of 7 to 2. Mayor Monday expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Arts Commission for all the work they have ' done. She said she knows obtaining these funds is very difficult and they didn't give up when they failed the first time. She felt they have made a permanent contribution to this community and expressed many, many thanks. Dr. Herb Muecke, Arts Commissioner, said he certainly understands the position of the Council in their questions, because they were in their positions two weeks ago when they had requests for $97,000 and knew they only had $27,000 to spend. He said they too had to ask themselves some very hard questions and they take no offense at the Council's reservations. CONSIDER ORDINANCE Consider Ordinance amending the employee medical benefit plan Mr. Gene Pipes, City Manager, presented this ordinance, the caption of which is as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 90 -10 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE EMPLOYEE MEDICAL BENEFIT PLAN BY INCREASING DEDUCTIBLES, INCREASING LEVELS OF COINSURANCE, REDUCING MAXIMUM BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN COVERAGES, INCREASING CONTRIBUTION LEVELS, AND MAKING OTHER PROVISIONS AND FUNDING RELATED THERETO Councilmember Green noted the changes in this ordinance that he questioned last week are really a part of the existing benefit plan, so there is not a probLem with that at all. He noted, however, one technical problem, and that is that it says we will be amending Section 1 and really, the only items that represent amendments to Section I are sections I through IV; Sections 5 and 6 are really not part of the benefit plan at alL. Mr. Pipes asked that the Council strike the reference to Section I so that it just "amends the empLoyee benefit plan, as follows." Councilmember Green said that sounded fine. Councilmember Green then made the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 90 -10 as amended and Councilmember Howard seconded the motion All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "g" 150 CONSIDER BIDS Consider bid for HFRS -2P Asphaltic Oil to Gulf States Asphalt in the amount of 685 per gaLLon (semi- annual contract) Mr. Pipes, City Manager, advised it is the city's intent to purchase a semi- annual contract for HFRS -2P asphaLtic oil in an estimated quantity of 25,000 gallons. He noted four bids were mailed out and two were received; however, only one met specifications. He presented the staff's recommendation to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications from Gulf States Asphalt at .685 per half gaLLon. Councilmember Barrett made the nation to approve of this bid and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the nation passed unanimously. Consider bid for a 60 -inch riding mower to Brazos Machinery Company in the amount of $6,675, as budgeted Mr. Pipes, City Manager, said the City intends to purchase one new and unused 1990 6011- riding mower. He advised six bids were received, ranging from $6,676 to $8,200, alt of which met specifications. He presented the staff's recommendation to accept the lowest bid meeting specifications, submitted by Brazos Machinery Co., Inc., in the amount of $6,675.00. He said $8,500 was budgeted for this item. CounciLmember Gaines made the motion and Councilmember Hammack seconded the motion. ALL were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER APPRAISAL CONSULTANT Consider appointment of an appraisal consultant to provide service for the easement acquisition necessary for the H.U.D. grant - financed low- income areas' sewer projects Mr. Pipes presented information from Mr. Dale Brown, Director of Planning, concerning a requirement for our single - purpose sewer grant that the city appraise all easements and offer to purchase the easement ' rights from the property owners. Mr. Pipes said the city must contract for the services of a review appraiser to review all the appraisals against the federal guidelines. He noted Letters soliciting interest were sent to all appraisers the city has formally used as well as all appraisers listed in the Huntsville telephone directory and a notice was placed in the Huntsville Item soliciting appraisal services. Mr. Pipes said the staff has received three replies and recommends that a "lead appraiser" and an alternate appraiser and a lead and alternate "review appraiser" be approved so as to spread the work around should time constraints develop. Mr. Pipes presented the staff's recommendation that the lead appraiser be Robert W. Smith and the alternate appraiser, if needed, be Rex E. Bolin and that the review appraiser be Rex E. Bolin and the alternate review appraiser be WiLLiam J. Lyon. He said the staff now envisions there will be a maximum of 30 tracts to be appraised. Councilmember Howard made the motion to approve of the staff's CITY MANAGER'S REPORT - -GENE PIPES City Manager, Gene Pipes, presented a staff report on the use of herbicides. He said the total cost of herbicides purchased by the city during the 1990 fiscal year totaled $1,316.30, or about $1,000 less than last year. He said the application rates of the pesticides are very carefully monitored. He said the city does have a log sheet that is filled out and retained for each application. He said the city is very careful to monitor this and to apply it according to appropriate labels and has licensed staff available to supervise this work. He said the city has also done a considerable amount of work in documenting the specific applications. He noted in the instance addressed by the citizen Last week, that application was very carefully monitored and the applicator did not leave the area until the herbicide had dried. He said the city would never encourage any parent to allow or to encourage their children to play in the ditches in any area of town. He said certainly the risk of contamination was well past before the applicator left, ' because the ambient air temperature was in the 90's and it would not take long to dry to spray on the vegetation for which it was intended. He said the city does have a rather difficult time maintaining the banks of some of the ditches around town because mechanical equipment simply won't travel there. He said a twice a year application of herbicide has given a very satisfactory result. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 151 Consider a letter of understanding with T.D.C.J. -I.D. for sewer metering and billing Mr. Pipes, City Manager, presented this "Letter of Understanding," which acknowledges that "at the present time, the city's ordinances provide that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice -- Institutional Division (Department) will pay for sewer service based upon the amount of water consumed at its respective facilities. In actual practice, the city charges for sewer service to the Diagnostic, Walls and Wynne Units based upon water consumption. The new office complex on Spur 59, formerly Brown Oil Tool, and the Goree Unit are charged sewer service, however, based upon estimated wastewater discharged into the city's sewer system. The City has now proposed that the Department, to the extent possible, be billed for wastewater service based upon metered wastewater discharge rather than water consumption. "The City's staff will recommend to Council that the Department be billed upon metered wastewater discharge provided that the city's ordinances be amended to encompass the procedure; and that the Department reimburse the city for its expenses related to the acquisition and installation of the wastewater discharge metering. It is agreed that the city will be reimbursed its actual costs for such acquisition and installation, not to exceed the sum of 821,000.00. The city staff will also recommend that the city be responsible for all maintenance of the wastewater meters once installation of such meters is complete. . . If for any reason a wastewater meter is damaged or malfunctions, city staff will propose that the Department pay for sewer service based upon the readings of Department's in -Line backup wastewater meters, provided such meters are available and have been farad by city to be sufficiently accurate, and if not found to be acceptably accurate, then the average of the twelve preceding readings of the meter, exclusive of incorrect readings. If the average reading procedure is used and if Less than twelve correct readings are available, then fewer readings may be used in preparing the estimated biLL.11 Mr. Pipes advised TDCJ -ID has approved of this letter of understanding. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve of the Letter of ' ! understanding and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Consider options to provide Dower to the Rustic Pines sanitary sewer lift station Mr. Pipes advised that at the last meeting, the staff provided a rather considerable bid to construct the lift stations and sewer lines associated with the Rustic Pines project. He presented a memorandum from Mr. Glenn IsbelL, Director of Engineering Design, concerning Gulf States Utilities request for 822,930 as payment to provide electrical service to the proposed lift station sites (two) on this project. Mr. Dennis E. Singletary, District Superintendent for GSU, advised in his letter that the estimated cost to serve the two sewer Lifts is 855,365 and they anticipate revenues of 832,435 to be generated from the two lifts; therefore, they are requesting the City of Huntsville to contribute 822,930 in aid of construction. Mr. Singletary noted the contribution can be a one -time payment of 822,930, or can be spread over 48 months at a month Ly cost of 8480 plus metered revenues. Mr. Singletary explained the lengthy extension of GSU facilities to serve the two sewer lifts, coupled with no other anticipated revenue source in the general area, is the reason for the large cost to the city for this project. Mr. Isbell recommended payment of 8480.00 per month plus the metered service costs. Mayor Monday asked if there is any other alternative. Mr. Pipes said there is not. She then asked the status of this reserve for future allocation fund. Mr. Pipes noted the balance is about 850,000 in the capital projects reserve fund. Councilmember Hammock made the motion to approve of the month Lv payment option of $480.00 per month as outlined above and Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Consider contract with the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation_ to design and construct sidewalk appurtenances along both sides of the Highway 75 N widening proiect Mr. Pipes, City Manager, advised this contract requires the tendering of 8150,056.80 as escrow for the work to be done by the contractor on this project, as an adjunct to it. He said it is a standard form highway department contract and requires approval as quickly as possible so that the SDHPT can Let the bids, hopefully later in the month out of the Bryan office or at the state Level for this construction project, which wiLL be in excess of two and one -half million doLLars. He said this is money well spent to companion that type of expenditure in improving the transportation system in Huntsville. Councilmember Howard made the motion to approve of this contract as outlined and Councilmember Hammock seconded the motion All were MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 152 in favor and the motion Passed unanimously. Mayor Monday congratulated the Council, noting they have talked about sidewalks for a long time. She said she is proud of the fact that the Council would elect to spend money to put sidewalks that lead to our major parks and to allocate the dollars with the philosophy expressed in the Master Plan of the Council to put sidewalks in this community. Consider authorization for installation of flashing school zone signs on Martin Luther King Drive for the new elementary school Mr. Pipes presented a request from Buddy Frizzell, representing HuntsviLLe's new elementary school, to install school zones - - specifically flashing school zone lights - -on Martin Luther King Drive adjacent to the new elementary school before the start of school. He said the Council's schedule for expected meetings would indicate that the next possible meeting would be July 24, which would put the City a little short on time to purchase the necessary equipment to see to its installation prior to the start of school. He said Mr. Bounds, City Attorney, wilL need to provide an ordinance designating this as a school zone. He said because of the time requirements necessary to get this type facility instalLed, the type of traffic that is likely to be generated because of the school district's plans to use the Loading dock; and the number of staff and anticipated population of this new school site; certainly a flashing school zone light on Martin Luther King Drive will prove to be one that is very important. He said it is approximately a $2,000 expenditure. Councilmember Barrett made the motion to approve of the installation of this flashing school zone light and Councilmember Gaines seconded the motion. Discussion: Councilmember Green noted at one time the Council had a discussion relative to individual school, or entities making request, that didn't go through the HISD administration. Mr. Pipes said this one did not come through the HISD administration ( SUperintentent's office), but simply through the Principal. He said he didn't know if this is an indication that the Superintendent is out of town. Councilmember Green said he didn't have a problem with the request, but did not want to circumvent the administrative procedures. Mayor Monday suggested verifying ' this request with the Superintendent's Office. Mr. Pipes said he will be happy to do that and he agreed that the communications do need to come through the Superintendent's Office. All were in favor of this motion providing the HISD Administration concurs with this request and the motion passed unanimously. TML resolutions deadline for 1990 annual conference -- September 10 1990 Mr. Pipes advised that the deadline is September 10, 1990 for submitting TML resolutions. He said he will be happy to assist the Council in preparing any resolution about any concern they may wish to express to the league, which will be brought back to this Council for approval and then to the Region 14 and then to TML. It was noted we did not submit a resolution Last year, but did review those of other cities. Mr. Pipes presented the challenge for the Council to make homemade ice cream for the city's celebration of its 155th birthday. He asked them to consider the challenge, form teams or work individually. Councilmember Knotts advised he and his wife will make a freezer of ice cream. Mayor Monday noted she wiLL be out of town but will be represented with her ice cream. Mr. Pipes advised on July 7 and 8 there will be a Soap Box Derby Race on the 7th Street hill and the gets will be barricaded around the race course. He advised the traffic will be closed at Old sonville Road, Avenue N, and Avenue P so that the through traffic will not run over the soap box cars on Street. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT - -JANE MONDAY Judge Robinson's Letter -- accept plan for Pleasant Gray's Spring' Mayor Monday advised she has a letter from Judge Frank Robinson, County Judge, noting in Monday's meeting, the Commissioner's Court did accept a plan for the Spring site, along with a Letter from the Historical Commission designating an area and accepting plans. She said the Spring site is well on its way for development; especially the money from the Commissioner's Court. She said the Spring site will be added to the downtown plan. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK 110" 153 TDC Reoional Medical Facility at Ellis 11 Unit -- Opening and Tour Mayor Monday advised she attended the opening of the TDCJ RegionaL Medical Facility, the only one of its kind in the nation. She advised a gentleman in her tour group was from New Mexico and noted peopLe from all over the nation were flying in to look at that facility. She said it is something of which we should be proud and happy to have here servicing this area. Congratulation Reception for Officer Lane Hurst Mayor Monday said she attended an appreciation reception for Police Officer Lane Hurst, who recently saved the life of a young child by administering artificial respiration. She said he received his letter of commendation from the Police Department's Board of Review. She noted the child and her family were also there and pictures were taken of them with Officer Hurst. Mayor's Activities Mayor Monday advised she attended the Johnson family reunion on Saturday, a long time Huntsville family; attended the installation of the Eastern Star officers; greeted the participants at the basketball calm and advised of a invitation to a reception to be held on Friday evening. She said the head of the basketbalL camp just won the state basketbalL championship in Kentucky and one of the coaches won the state ichampionship in Georgia and another one in Indiana. She said there are about 30 coaches here. She said there are girls participating this year and boys from all over the United States. She said all through the week there will be coaches in from various conferences to look at these prospects. She said on Friday they will begin their play -off games and the council is invited to the basketball games. She said the council can also meet some of these Leading coaches. She encouraged them to come to the games. She noted she has ' been told by these coaches that this is one of the finest facilities in the nation in which they have had i the opportunity to play. I COUNCIL ACTION B_urdis Gamble's Wrecking Yard Complaint Counci Lmember Green recalled several months ago, Mr. Burdis Gamble addressed the Counci L about a concern relative to noise with respect to a wrecking yard. He said he spoke with him this week and Mr. Gamble Left him with the impression that no one had gotten back to him about that matter. Councilmember Green said he told him he didn't know if anything could be done because he was not sure there were any violations of codes, etc., relative to that. Councilmember Green suggested the city may wish to communicate with him, perhaps formally. Mayor Monday advised she has spent about a year and one -half on this problem and has met with this couple three or four times. She said they have tried to work through a very difficult procedure but have never been able to bring it to fruition. She said she welcomes arty ideas or help from anyone. She suggested Councilmember Green visit with Mr. Pipes and Chief Eckhardt. She noted Councilmember Carter is also concerned about this matter. She said she will be happy to visit about this with anyoncerned counciLmembers. Fireworks Display Councilmember Bell asked if there will be a fireworks display this year. Mr. Pipes said one has been announced at the West HILL Mall. Mayor Monday noted it will be at 9:00 P.M. on July 4. Weight Limits for City Streets Councilmember Bell asked the city staff to establish weight limits for city streets. He advised there is a logging operation going on next door at Spring Lake. He said while we cannot do much about the clear cutting, he is not pleased with the Logging trucks going down Autumn Drive. He said he is seeing ' alligator cracking already and logging trucks, in his judgment, are probably too heavy for that particular road. He said he discovered there are no weight limits on city streets. Mr. Pipes advised the city's limitation in the past is that it does not have scales other than those at the landfill, but has not previously established weight Limits on particular roads. He said this is the sort of thing that would make a very good decision package for the Police Department. He said first there wilL need to be a companion ordinance establishing weight limits on various roads and classifications. He said without a way to MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "0" 154 regulate it, a portable scale is the answer to this type of project. He said the city could arrest the driver and request him to drive to the landfill to weigh, but he was not sure the city wanted to tear up the LandfiLL scale on a log truck and then create a problem of having to turn it around after it was in there. He said the portable scale is a better answer. Counci Lmeaber Hammock said perhaps the Chief can figure out how much a truck weighs without going through all that. Councilmember Carter said it may not be overloaded; we may just not want log trucks on residential streets. Councilmember Hammock noted probably most of them are legal for state highways. Councilmember Bell advised a private citizen has requested his help with a sewer line problem behind his business establishment. Councilmember Bell noted he found out from the staff that the line has serious problems with root intrusion and with breaking down, etc. He formally asked that the staff look at this Line and if necessary, to clean it out. Mr. Pipes, City Manager, rated this line has been one the staff has been holding off dealing with in terms of the city's right -of -way clearing program because of the sensitivity about its location. He said this line was built in the early 1960's. Councilmember Knott& said he built that line and it was in a very shallow area. Mr. Pipes said the line suffers from root intrusion, line leakage, has odor complaints constantly and is possibly dislocated. Because of the vegetative growth, it is inaccessible to a large extent and it would require clearing the entire right -of -way from 11th Street to 19th Street in order to be able to get to the line to make the necessary repairs to remedy the problem. Mr. Pipes said this is a sensitive consideration because of the vegetation and environmental concerns. He said this is one of the last lines remaining in the city's overall project. He said the Council needs to be aware there will be some concerns expressed about clearing it, but at the same time it is a health problem, clearing the easement is necessary to remedy the problem. Mayor Monday said we certainly need the staff to ' take a Look at this and report back. Mr. Pipes said this can be done right away. Councilmember Carter expressed his appreciation for the staff's report on its use of herbicides and pesticides in the city. He encouraged any citizen to review the staff's report and visit with anyone concerned and /or the city staff. He said he was also encouraged that herbicide use has decreased and that the city's purchasing has not increased on this item. Mr. Pipes said there is nothing that the city uses on a regular basis that is not available over the counter, without a license, in any of the local stores. Councilmember Carter said he is pleased with the park plan for the development of the Spring site. asked about the cost for the six large oak trees. He said he doubts this should be a part of the plan. Pipes said he thinks Mr. Janos Patton (County Clerk) was referring to the future or some 25 years from Councilmember Hammack said this probably means six inch oak trees. Councilmember Carter said the plan rids wonderful and that he would visit with James Patton to get clarification about the trees. Councilmember Carter said he went to Houston to take Mr. Stuart Cox there for a TV interview iry on skyscrapers in Houston. He encouraged all of the Council to watch that particular TV CounciLmember Carter advised the Mayor assisted him in designating three visiting British citizens "Honorary Citizens" of Huntsville. ary Grivich. National Junior Gymnastics Champion ' CounciLmember Hammock noted Huntsville's Hilary Grivich, National Junior Gymnastics Champion, was tured in the Houston Chronicle newspaper and Mr. Karolyi's gym was also highlighted. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 1990 BOOK "O" 155 TDCJ Regional Medical Center Councilmember Barrett noted he participated with the Mayor in the tour of this facility, which will bring some new jobs to this area. Champion International to build a De -Inking Plant at Sheldon Councilmember Knotts advised he has Learned that Champion International will build a "de- inking plant-- at Sheldon, to be completed in 1991 or 1993 and that they will be able to take all of the waste paper we can generate in the Houston and Huntsville area. Councilmember Hammock said this plant is still in the planning and permitting stage. Bid for Rustic Pines /Big D Sewer System Improvements to Palasota Construction. Inc • $488,519.51 Councilmember Knotts noted he hopes the Council spent more time discussing this bid than what the minutes reflect. Councilmenber Barrett said it was discussed a Lot and he personally addressed the issue at Length. Councilmember Knotts asked if Wisenbaker, Fix & Associates did the plans and specs or just the lift station design. Mr. Pipes, City Manager, said Wisenbaker, Fix did the entire project. Councilmember Knotts said he felt it was embarrassing to take bids and then award the project to one that was $72,000 higher than the low bid. Me said any firm should have a qualified List of bidders and if this company was not qualified to bid, it should not have been allowed to bid. He said he also did not understand the reluctance to go with the bonding companies. ADJOURNMENT 1 Respectfully yours, i Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary July 3, 1990