Minutes - 04/21/2015
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 21DAY OF APRIL 2015, 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: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe
P. Rodriquez
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Lydia Montgomery
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 Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Andy Brauninger gave an invocation.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Proclamation for Fair Housing Month
- Proclamation for Parliamentary Law Month
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 meeting held on April 7, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Consider authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the Department of Justice Bulletproof Vest
Program for $7,700.00. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources\]
Councilmember Brauninger moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember
Johnson. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0.
5. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider amending Klotz
and Associates’ Phase I contract for the Town Creek Drainage Project to include an additional $360,530.78 for
Phase II, to include the design, engineering and construction of the project, and adopt Ordinance 2015-21 to
amend the budget for the same, first reading. \[Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources; Y. S.
Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
First reading, no action taken. George Russell and Bruce Moore spoke in opposition to the environmental assessment
and proceeding with the project.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider authorizing the City Manager to sign
an Engineering Agreement with Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. for the N. B. Davidson Wastewater Treatment
Plant Rehabilitation Phase I Design – Project # 14-11-10. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to sign an Engineering Agreement with Alan Plummer
Associates, Inc. for the N. B. Davidson Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Phase I Design – Project # 14-11-10;
the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriguez. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider awarding a bid for the construction of
Waterline Replacement Projects (Avenue C - project # 12-10-27 and Sam Houston Avenue - project # 12-10-24)
and approving Ordinance 2015-20 for the associated budget amendment. \[Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City
Engineer\]
Councilmember Allen moved to award a bid for the construction of Waterline Replacement Projects (Avenue C - project #
12-10-27 and Sam Houston Avenue - project # 12-10-24) to 5-T Utilities, Inc. and adopt Ordinance 2015-20 for the
associated budget amendment; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted
unanimously, 8-0.
d. Presentation, public comment, and discussion to preview the budget for the fiscal year 2015-16. \[Steve Ritter,
Finance Director\]
Mr. Ritter gave an overview of the City’s current fiscal condition and outlined the budget schedule for the FY 2015-16.
6. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to approve Ordinance 2015-19
to suspend the GRIP rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy, first reading. \[Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
Councilmember Olson moved to suspend the requirement for a second reading (pursuant to Charter, Section 4.1.2), the
motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was unanimously approved, 8-0. Councilmember
Olson moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-19 to suspend the GRIP rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy, the motion was
seconded by Councilmember Johnson. The motion was unanimously adopted, 8-0.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider a request from the YMCA for a waiver
of plumbing permit fees at 2906 Old Houston Road. \[Councilmember Emmett\]
Councilmember Emmett moved to waive the plumbing permit fees at 2906 Old Houston Road; the motion was seconded
by Councilmember Brauninger. The motion was adopted unanimously, 8-0.
c. City Manager’s Report
1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development.
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City Manager Matt Benoit apprised the Council of the installation of stop signs at Avenue N and 10 Street for a
ninety-day trial and comment period. He also noted that the Planning & Zoning (P&Z)/Council Ad Hoc Committee for
the Development Code had met and decided that decisions involving preliminary plats involving four or more lots and
infrastructure will be preceded by a combined work session of both bodies. Mr. Benoit added that P&Z would meet in
a regular meeting following the work session to handle the item as part of their regular agenda. He said that this
process would not require any rewrite of the Development Code. The Mayor announced that he would visit further
with the Ad Hoc Committee. Mr. Benoit presented the agenda item for the April 23 Special Session.
7. 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 April 14, 2015.
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 presented the following items:
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The Senior Center is hosting a 42 Dominoes fundraiser on April 25. Please call 295-6151 for more information.
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Huntsville Public Library & the SHSU will present a free Citizenship Preparation Course on Thursdays in April. Please
contact Mary Kokot at 291-5912 for more information.
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The Main Street office is hosting the Huntsville Music Festival every Thursday in April at Rather Park downtown. See
the City website and Main Street Facebook page for updated performers and vendors each week.
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Airing of the Quilts will be held Saturday, May 2, on the Square, from 9-4; accompanied by the by the Cinco de Mayo
festival from 10-6.
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This Thursday at noon there will be an Alzheimer’s class at the library (or in this room, depending on Library AC
repair) at noon – open to all, lunch will be served.
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Tickets are already on sale for Wine Down, Shop Small on the Square on Thursday, May 7 from 5-9 p.m.
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The City is calling for photos for this year’s calendar. Please see the most recent issues of our digital newsletter This
Week in Huntsville, or contact us at 936-291-5403.
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The Promoting Our Positives committee in support of HISD has kicked off their Feel the Sting Hornet Flag campaign.
Please contact the Chamber of Commerce or the City Secretary to order flags to fly downtown or at your home, to
show your support of our school district and its importance in our community.
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Former City Councilmember and Mayor Morris Waller and his wife Jan will celebrate their 60 wedding anniversary
on Thursday, April 23. We wish them many more happy years together!
Councilmember Humphrey encouraged all to attend this year’s General Sam Houston Folk Festival will be held on the grounds
of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Park on May 1-3. She also announced there will be a shuttle to and from the
Airing of the Quilts and the Cinco de Mayo events and the Festival.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Clasina Watson, Deputy City Secretary