Minutes - 11/20/2018
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MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 20 DAY OF NOVEMBER 2018, 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: Andy Brauninger, Joe Emmett, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez, Tyler McCaffety, Tish Humphrey,
Paul Davidhizar, Keith D. Olson, Mari Montgomery
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Clyde D. Loll
OFFICERS PRESENT: Aron Kulhavy, City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Leonard Schneider, City Attorney
RECEPTION \[5:00 P.M.\] Council, staff, and the public welcomed new Councilmember Mari Montgomery, thanked outgoing Mayor
Pro Tem Keith D. Olson, and congratulated Councilmembers Paul Davidhizar and Clyde D. Loll on their re-election.
MAIN SESSION \[6:00 p.m.\]
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Brauninger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGES
U.S. Flag
Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one, and indivisible.
Councilmember Davidhizar gave the invocation and Kylar Kirkland of Alpha Omega Academy (Mayor Pro Tem Olson’s
granddaughter) led the pledges.
1. ELECTION MATTERS
a. Administration of the Oath and Statement of Office to the duly-elected City Councilmembers by Walker County Judge Danny
Pierce.
2. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
- Small Business Saturday Proclamation
3. 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 meetings held on October 16, October 30, November 1, November 14, and
November 15, 2018. \[Lee Woodward, City Secretary\]
b. Adopt Ordinance 2019-04 to amend the budget for FY18-19. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
c. Adopt Resolution 2019-05 to authorize City staff as “Authorized Persons” for the City for investment transaction
activity with First Empire, an approved broker dealer with the City. \[Steve Ritter, Finance Director\]
d. Authorize the City Manager to accept the 2017-18 Texas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Award
#7218221 from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in the amount of $350,000; adopt Ordinance 2019-05 to
amend the budget for FY 18-19; designate the signatories, Civil Rights Officer, and Labor Standards Officer;
reaffirm the Civil Rights Policies; and adopt Resolutions 2019-06 and 2019-07 in support of same. \[Steve Ritter,
Finance Director\]
e. Authorize the City Manager to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Development Agreement between the City of Huntsville
and 1 Texas Grand Ranch LLC. \[Aron Kulhavy, City Manager\]
f. Authorize the purchase of a sewer TV inspection camera and all associated equipment, to include freight,
installation, and onsite training, and adopt Resolution 2019-09, authorizing the City Manager to award the
construction contract. \[Brent Sherrod, Public Works Director\]
g. Authorize the City Manager to approve a contract renewal with Companion Life for stop loss insurance coverage,
and adopt Resolution 2019-08, authorizing the City Manager to award the contract. \[Julie O’Connell, HR Director\]
Item e was pulled and was not considered or approved. Councilmember Rodriquez moved to approve the consent agenda;
the motion was seconded by Councilmember Davidhizar. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
4. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. FIRST READING - Presentation, discussion, public comment, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance
2019-08, creating paid parking spaces along 17th Street between Bobby K. Marks Drive and Bearkat Boulevard,
first reading. \[Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer\]
First reading, no action taken.
b. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider purchase of FY2019
vehicles, to include all equipment, from multiple vendors, and adopt Resolution 2019-10, authorizing the City
Manager to award the contract, first reading. \[Brent Sherrod, Public Works Director\]
Councilmember Montgomery moved to waive the second reading per the provisions of the adopted Council Rules of
Procedure, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilmember Emmett
voting against.
Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to purchase FY2019 vehicles to include equipment, from
multiple vendors, in the total amount of $802,356.00, and adopt Resolution 2019-10, authorizing the City Manager to award
the contract; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
c. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance 2019-02 amending
the Huntsville Code of Ordinances, specifically Chapter 12, Buildings and Building Regulations, second reading.
\[Kevin Byal, Director of Development Services/Building Official\]
Councilmember Humphrey moved to adopt Ordinance 2019-02 amending the Huntsville Code of Ordinances, specifically
Chapter 12, Buildings and Building Regulations; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rodriquez. The motion was
adopted, 7-0. Councilmember Allen signed an affidavit of Conflict of Interest and did not participate in the discussion.
d. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider City Manager’s Report
a. The City Council will hear information on debt issuance and bond proposition 3 project timelines.
Public Works Director Brent Sherrod provided an update on the 2016 bond projects.
5. CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER/CITY ATTORNEY
a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to consider the Mayor’s nomination for the TIRZ #1
Board of Directors Chair for 2019. \[Mayor Brauninger\]
The Mayor moved his nomination of Dalene Zender. The motion was adopted, 8-0.
6. 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 Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA
No media inquiries were made.
8. 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 Brauninger announced the runoff election on December 15 for the At-Large Position 2 City Council seat, that early voting
will begin November 28, and all early and election day voting will be at the Walker County Annex. He also discussed the Mayors
Breakfast held on November 13. The Mayor reminded everyone to visit the HuntsvilleTX.gov/Projects page to know about
everything happening in the community on the economic development scene.
Councilmember Humphrey said the Huntsville Lions Club is working with Trex to recycle the types of plastics the City’s transfer
station is not able to accept and have the products made into a bench to be placed in the community. She reminded all of the
City’s next free dumpster week, Dec. 3-8, for free residential cleanup.
Councilmember Rodriguez shared that HISD PTA is selling Hornet magnets as a fundraiser and wished the Hornets the best of
luck in their playoff game this Friday at NRG Stadium in Houston, against Manvel High School. Councilmember Rodriquez
encouraged the community to support the Lions Club Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
He added that the Wynne Home would be a great place to watch it, as they host Cider on the Porch beginning at 6 p.m.
Councilmember McCaffety announced the Wynne Home’s annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest entries are due on
November 28, and a reception will be held November 30 from 6-8 p.m., along with a snowflake-cutting activity. He also said that
the Wynne Home Open House would be on December 2 from 2-4 p.m.
Councilmember Allen invited citizens to the Nicolay Danceworks A Wynne Home Nutcracker, saying there will be multiple
performances each night December 5-8 and tickets are available online at NicolayDanceWorks.com.
Councilmember Emmett said December 1 is going to be a big day in downtown Huntsville, as all come together to celebrate the
annual Downtown Christmas Fair and Winter in the Park from 10-5 around the Square and in Rather Park.
Councilmember Montgomery informed the public that 1,600 lucky City residents received a postcard in the last few days letting
them know their address has been selected to complete the City’s citizen survey and asking that those who got a postcard please
help plan for Huntsville’s future by completing and returning the surveys.
Councilmember Davidhizar invited all to the Statue for their annual open house on Thursday, December 6, from 10-5. He said
there will be 25% off in the gift shop, refreshments from noon-1, and a special performance by the HHS Jazz Band. The Mayor
and Councilmember Humphrey asked all to support the Head Start meals for the holidays, and Councilmember Humphrey and
McCaffety expressed the importance of supporting CASA’s playhouses as their holiday fundraiser.
City Manager Aron Kulhavy introduced new Public Works Assistant Director Kim Kembro.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. 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 George Russell claims against the City of
Huntsville. \[Leonard V. Schneider, City Attorney\]
The Council adjourned to Executive Session at 7:14 p.m.
10. RECONVENE
a. Take action on Executive Session items, if necessary.
The Council reconvened at 7:55 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brauninger adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:55 p.m.
Lee Woodward, City Secretary