City Council

ND MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE22DAYOFJANUARY2013,INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXASAT6:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,JamesFitch,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,KeithD.Olson,TishHumphrey,RonaldAllen,ClydeLoll COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: JoeEmmett OFFICERSPRESENT: MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary_____________________________________ REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES - Inthepresenceofaquorum, CouncilmemberHumphreygavetheinvocation andIiciaSykes ofthe SanJacintoGirlScoutsledthepledges. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS a. ProclamationhonoringSamHoustonStateUniversityBearkatFootballprogram. 4. PUBLICHEARING a. CityCouncilwillholdapublichearingontheCity’s FairHousingActivityStatement (FHASTForm)andtoreceiveinputfrom Huntsvilleresidents. [Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] TheMayoropenedthepublichearingat6:05pm. TheMayorclosedthepublichearingat6:05pm. 5. PUBLICCOMMENT RamiroJaime,Jr.,AttorneyGeneralforSHSUStudentGovernment,gaveMarch2asthedateforthisyear’s AllPawsIn,encouraging participationandnotificationofthosewhoneededassistance. HeannouncedtheregistrationdeadlinewasFebruary14andsaidmore informationwasavailablethroughtheSHSUwebsite. 6. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. Anitem mayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofamemberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegularSessionheldonJanuary8,2013. [LeeWoodward,CitySecretary] b. ApproveOrdinance2013-10grantingMontgomeryGasTransmission,Inc.afranchisetolayagaslinewithinthecitylimitsand right-of-waytoservePaver’s Supplyforaperiodoften (10)years,secondreading. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityand EconomicDevelopment, andLeonardSchneider, CityAttorney] CouncilmemberOlson movedtoapprovetheConsentAgendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberHumphrey. Themotion carriedunanimously, 9-0. 7. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation inregardstoenclosinganexistingbalconylocatedat110512thStreetintheDowntowndistrict.[Aron Kulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment] AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment, saidFacemakerownerBertLylehadapproachedtheCityto encloseabalconyonhisbuildingwhichwouldencroachovertheCityright-of-way. CouncilmemberJohnsonaskediftherewould stillbeanabilitytophotographdowntown fromthebalcony andMr.Lylesaidheenvisioned “alotofglass”andanopenarea. Councilmember Montgomeryaskedandwastoldthat thebalcony wasalreadyinplaceandpartofthebuildingwhenMr.Lyle purchasedthebuildingin1990. Mr.KulhavyrespondedtoCouncilmemberHumphrey’squestionaboutsimilarsituationsbynoting thatalthoughtherewereanumberofsuchstructuresdowntown, buttheywerenottypicallyenclosedforoccupancy. Mr.Kulhavy added thatthereweresomesmalladjustmentstobemadefor requiredpermittingbutthattheCitywouldstillbeableto access publicutilities. b. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction toapproveOrdinance2013-12,authorizingparticipationwithotherEntergy serviceareacitiesinmattersconcerningEntergyTexas,Inc.,atthePublicUtilityCommissionandtheFederalEnergy RegulatoryCommissionin2013,1streading. [LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney] CityAttorneyLeonardSchneidernotedthiswasanannualitemandthatthecoalitionofcitiesworkedthroughtheLawtonLaw FirmtominimizethepotentialimpactofincreasedfeesthroughEntergy. c. AuthorizetheCityManagertopurchasea wheelloaderfromRBEverett, Pasadena, TX. [SteveRitter,Interim Finance Director] CouncilmemberOlsonmadeamotiontoapprovethepurchaseandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberLoll. Themotionpassed unanimously, 9-0. d. AuthorizetheCityManagertoapprovethepurchaseofninevehiclesaslistedontheVehicleReplacementSchedulefor FY12-13withatotalpurchasepriceof $252,423.00.[SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] CouncilmemberMontgomerymadeamotiontoapprovethepurchaseandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. CouncilmemberAllenaskedhowtheCitycoulddeterminewhatamountcouldbeexpectedtoreceiveandwastoldbyBillieSmith, ProcurementManager, thatitwasanestimatefromthebidsite. ShealsoansweredCouncilmemberAllen’s questionaboutnot receivingtheamountbysayingthatabidcouldberejectedandrebid. Mrs.Smithwasaskedaboutthe $16,000budgetedforthe  fleetreplacementscheduleandCouncilmemberAllenaskedwhylesswasbudgetedfor2013thanthetruckcostin2001andsaid thatlowerpriceshadbeenreceived. Shesaidthetruckinquestioncostjustover $19,000. CouncilmemberHumphreyrecalled thepreviousCouncilconversationaboutbudgetingforfleetandaskediftherewasapercentageincreaseappliedacrossthe scheduleorreviewedvehiclebyvehicle. SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector,saidapercentageincreasehadbeenusedinthe pastbutnotforthelastfewyears,instead, reviewwasused. CouncilmemberHumphreyrequestedthattherelevantschedulebe attachedinthepacket. Mr.Ritternotedtheamounts ontheagendaitemwerefromthatschedule. Councilmember Humphrey aboutidentificationofvehiclesbroughtforththatwerenotpartofthecurrentbudgetyearandMr.Rittersaiditwouldbenoted. CouncilmemberJohnsonconfirmedthatMr.RitterandMrs.Smithreceived the amountsfromthereplacementscheduleand did notsetthevaluesthemselves. CouncilmemberJohnsonalsoreceivedconfirmationthattheamountswerefor net-buy-new and trade-inamountswerenotreflected. CouncilmemberOlsonnoteda differenceoflessthan2%frombudgetwithouttheupgrade thatwasnotbudgeted. CouncilmemberFitchaskediftheschedulewasfluidand ifvehiclescouldbedelayedifnotneeding replacementwhenscheduled, andMr.Ritternotedthatdidoccurinconsultation withFleetandtheappropriateDirector(s). CouncilmemberFitchrequestedtheinclusionofthisinformation. CouncilmemberAllenaskedaboutthetrailer [Asset374-332]for 46,610withmaintenancefor $23,947.26,andwastoldtheybelieveditwasthereplacementofthelivefloor. Councilmember Montgomerynotedthat,withtheexceptionofthe2007ridingmotor,eightofthevehicleswereten yearsorolderandtheother eightvehicleswere7-8yearsold. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. e. AdopttheupdatedFairHousingActivityStatement (FHAST)FormastheCityofHuntsville'sFairHousingActionPlan. Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] Councilmember Montgomery madeamotiontoapprovethepurchaseandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberJohnson. The motionpassedunanimously, 9-0. 8. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCILANDCITYMANAGERREPORT a. Presentation anddiscussiononestablishingaCharterReviewCommitteein2013. [MayorWoodward] MayorWoodwardannouncedtheCharterwastobereviewedeveryfiveyearsbutthatitwaslastreviewedayearlate,in2009,notingthe reviewwasdueagainin2013. TheMayornotedacommitteewouldbeappointedtoreviewandpossiblymakerecommendationstothe Council. HesaidtheCouncilmightchoosetomakeadditionalorotherrecommendationsandtheapprovedpropositionswouldbebrought beforethevotersfortheNovemberelection. TheMayorsaidhewouldbringnominationsforwardattheFebruary5meeting. b. AnnualupdatefromthePersonnelCommittee. [CouncilmemberMontgomery] CouncilmemberMontgomeryannouncedCommitteeCouncilmembersHumphrey,Loll,andFitch. Shesaidtheten2012meetings includedtransitioningtheCity’smedicalbenefitstooneplan,awellnessprogram,alump-sumpaymenttotheretirementsystem toreduceliabilities,andthepossibilityofalocalhealthclinicforemployees. CouncilmemberMontgomerynotedsignificantcost savingsduetohiringanewbenefitsconsultant. TheMayorthankedtheCommitteefortheirservice. c. PossibleactiontonominateaninformalcommitteeforannualreviewoftheCityCouncilRulesofProcedure. [MayorWoodward] TheMayornominatedCouncilmembersHumphreyandMontgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. d. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. CityManagerMattBenoitnotedthattheCityhad972,849visitorswhohadcomethroughtheVisitor’sCenterbyDecember 31,2012. Henotedtherewasabigpushtoreach1,000,000byMay2013,addingtherewouldbeprizesandgiveawaysand encouragedeveryonetogo. Mr.BenoitsaidthecampaignwouldbeginFebruary8. Hefollowedupbynotingthemuralitem delayedatthelastmeetingwasbeingreviewedandwouldcomebackonafutureagenda, possiblyFebruary5. 9. PUBLICCOMMENT CouncilmemberMontgomerysaidAllPawsInhadbeenahugebenefittothethriftshopattheNewLifeResaleShop,laudingthe serviceandhardworkofthestudentswhoparticipated. 10. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenomediainquiries. 11. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST TheMayorannouncedthattherewasatentativejointworkshopscheduledtoincludetheCityCouncil, HISDBoardofTrustees, and CountyCommissionersattheHISDAdministrativeBuildingandhadbeenrequestedbySuperintendentDr.SteveJohnsonandwould beopentothepublic. MayorWoodwardalsonotedtheannualWalkerCountyProudCommunities TreeSaleonFebruary2from8- noonattheStormShelter. TheMayorreportedtheannualTrashBashonMarch2from7:30-noonalloverthecommunity. 12. ADJOURNMENT TheMayoradjournedthemeetingat6:50pm. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary