Minutes - 08/18/2015
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 18 DAY OF AUGUST 2015, IN THE CITY HALL,
LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 4:00 P.M.
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
WORKSHOP \[5:00 P.M.\] – Consideration and discussion of Section 4a & 4b Economic Development sales tax, potential
uses, and possible ballot wording. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
The City Council reviewed and discussed the 4A and 4B sales tax options.
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 Rodriquez gave an invocation and Dalton Smith from the Boys & Girls Club
led the pledges.
3. PROCLAMATION – Feel the Sting Day for HISD
4. PUBLIC HEARING - The City Council will hear public comment on their consideration to adopt a maximum property tax
rate of $0.4106 per $100 valuation for the City’s 2015 – 2016 Fiscal Year (Tax Year 2015)
Mayor Woodward opened the hearing at 6:08 p.m. Janice Adams, David DeShaw, Gisela Allen, Charles Wagamon, Leroy
Hilton, Donna Pinon, Tarek Maalouf, and Jerry DeWitt spoke against the proposed tax rate and City expenses in the budget.
J.D. Davis urged assistance for the Inspections Division. Mayor Woodward closed the hearing at 6:37 p.m.
5. 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 August 4, 2015. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Approve Resolution 2015-15 designating The Huntsville Item as the official newspaper for the City of Huntsville for
FY 2015-16, annual item. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery.
The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of Ordinance 2015-33,
amending Chapter 24, Land Development, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Texas to adopt the
updated Development Code of the City of Huntsville, Texas, third reading. \[Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community
and Economic Development\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-33 amending Chapter 24, Land Development, of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Huntsville, Texas to adopt the updated Development Code of the City of Huntsville, Texas, the
motion was seconded by Councilmember Olson. The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0.
7. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance
2015-38 to update the City Council Rules of Procedure, first reading. \[Councilmember Emmett\]
First reading, no action taken. Councilmember Emmett provided an overview of the recommendations of the committee.
Councilmember Rodriquez noted items brought forward by several other Councilmembers that the committee discussed
but chose not to recommend.
b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adoption of an ordinance to order a
special election to be held in the City of Huntsville, Texas, on November 3, 2015, for either:
Ordinance 2015-39
An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntsville, Texas, ordering a special election to be held on
November 3, 2015, to submit a proposition on the combined question of the adoption of a Type A
Corporation Economic Development Sales and Use Tax within the city at the rate of one-eighth of one
percent for projects as allowed by Chapter 504 of the Local Government Code, and the adoption of an
additional Sales and Use Tax within the city at a rate of three-eighths of one percent to be used to reduce
the property tax rate;
OR
Ordinance 2015-40
An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntsville, Texas, ordering a special election to be held on
November 3, 2015, to submit a proposition on the combined question of the adoption of a Type B
Corporation Economic Development Sales and Use Tax within the city at the rate of one-eighth of one
percent for projects as allowed by Chapter 505 of the Local Government Code, and the adoption of an
additional Sales and Use Tax within the city at a rate of three-eighths of one percent to be used to reduce
the property tax rate.
Single reading required. \[Matt Benoit, City Manager\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-40, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntsville,
Texas, ordering a special election to be held on November 3, 2015, to submit a proposition on the combined question of
the adoption of a Type B Corporation Economic Development Sales and Use Tax within the city at the rate of one-eighth of
one percent for projects as allowed by Chapter 505 of the Local Government Code, and the adoption of an additional Sales
and Use Tax within the city at a rate of three-eighths of one percent to be used to reduce the property tax rate; the motion
was seconded by Councilmember Johnson.
Donna Pinon and Tarek Maalouf expressed concerns about the proposed corporation. The motion was adopted, 6-3,
Councilmembers Allen, Brauninger, and Rodriquez voting against.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider request from Councilmember
Rodriquez for consideration of a Decision Package calling the 2009 General Obligation Bonds and include the
Decision Package in the FY15-16 Budget. \[Councilmember Rodriquez\]
Councilmember Rodriquez moved to approve item 7c (to consider request from Councilmember Rodriquez for
consideration of a Decision Package calling the 2009 General Obligation Bonds and include the Decision Package in the
FY 15-16 Budget), the motion was seconded by Councilmember Brauninger. Councilmember Rodriquez recommended
using $715,000 to pay off the note. Councilmember Humphrey moved the previous question, the motion was seconded by
Councilmember Johnson. The motion failed, 6-3, Councilmembers Olson, Johnson, and Humphrey voting in support. The
motion was adopted, 5-4, Councilmembers Johnson, Olson, Montgomery, and Humphrey voting against.
8. 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 August 11, 2015.
9. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
There were no media inquiries. Janice Adams, J.D. Davis, and Todd Armstrong were permitted to ask questions of the City
Council.
10. 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.)
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Please make plans to attend a session of the HISD Education Summit September 28 or 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Huntsville
High School Commons area or on September 29 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Support & Learning Center on the Mance Park
Middle School campus to help our community come together and provide valuable input about education.
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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 Texas Children’s Health Plan Back to School Bash will be tomorrow from 10-1 at the Huntsville Public Library,
featuring school supplies, face painting and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Feel the Sting! Day will be August 28, 2015, the date of the Hornets first game this fall. Contact the Chamber of
Commerce at 295-8113 to order a flag for your home or business, or to fly downtown. Show your support of our school
district and its importance in our community!
Councilmember Humphrey lauded local teachers for educating students about their community. Mayor Woodward
reminded all to be careful of students returning to school.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - The City Council will convene in closed session as authorized by Texas Government Code
Chapter 551, Section 551.071 – consultation with counsel on legal matters concerning the log cabin on the Square and
the old Walker County Jail. \[Mayor Woodward and Leonard Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 8:22 p.m.
12. RECONVENE
a. Take action, if necessary, on items addressed during Executive Session.
The Council reconvened at 8:40 p.m.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary