City Council

TH MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE5 DAYOFFEBRUARY2013, INTHECITY HALL,LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXASAT5:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,JamesFitch,LydiaMontgomery,KeithD.Olson,JoeEmmett,TishHumphrey,RonaldAllen COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: DonJohnson,ClydeLoll OFFICERSPRESENT: MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary____________________________ WORKSESSION [5:00PM] –TheCityCouncilhelditsannualmeetingwiththePlanningandZoningCommissiontoreview thestatusoftheproposedDevelopmentCodeupdateandotherP &Zissuesonthehorizonforthecomingyear. AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment,gaveinformationandresourcesonplannedunitdevelopments PUDs)inrelationtotheCity’szoningandlotoptionsandhowsuchaprocessmightwork,particularlyissuesofreview. Henoted thepotentialofflexibilitywithintheparametersoftheCity’sComprehensivePlanandrequirementsfortheadditionofaplanned developmentarea(s)tothezoningmap. REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES - Inthepresenceofaquorum, CouncilmemberMontgomerygavetheinvocationandDiamond JohnsonoftheSanJacintoGirlScoutsledthepledges. 3. PUBLICCOMMENT Therewerenopubliccomments. 4. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. AnitemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofa memberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegular SessionheldonJanuary22,2013. [LeeWoodward,City Secretary] b. ApproveOrdinance2013-12,authorizingparticipationwithotherEntergyserviceareacitiesinmatters concerningEntergyTexas,Inc.,atthePublicUtilityCommissionandtheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission in2013,2ndreading. [LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney] c. ApproveOrdinance2013-13,amendingthebudgetforFY11-12. [SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] d. ApproveOrdinance2013-14,amendingthebudgetforFY12-13. [SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] e. AuthorizetheCityManagertoreapplyfora2014GeneralVictimAssistanceGrantfromtheH-GAC/TexasCriminal JusticeDivision,andapproveResolution2013-02insupportofsame. [Dr.SherryMcKibben,Community DevelopmentSpecialist] CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoapprovetheConsentAgendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberMontgomery. The motioncarriedunanimously, 7-0. 5. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation,discussion, th andpossibleactiontoapproveOrdinance2013-11forabudgetamendmentrelatedto muralrepairsat110411 Street. [MattBenoit,CityManager] CouncilmemberMontgomerymadeamotiontoapprovetheordinanceandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Humphrey. CityManagerMattBenoitsaidtheCouncilhadbeenprovidedwithfouroptionstoproceedandconcernedallocatingfund balanceforengineeringplans,independenttestingandreviewservices. Henotedthiswasbudgetedinthepreviousyear androlledintoasavingsaccountforthisyear. TheMayorclarifiedthatthemotionwastoapproverecommendation #3. CouncilmemberAllensaidhefelttheissuewashandledimproperlyandthatthequestionwasrepair/replacementofthe building’sroof,andaskedwhattheplansweretodealwithsafetyconcernsalongthesidewalk. TheMayorsaidhisunderstanding wasthattheamendmentwouldpayoutstandinginvoicesandaskedaboutassurance thattherepairsandreattachmentwouldnotbedoneuntilotherproblemswereresolved. Mr.Benoitsaidtherewasno suchassurance. CouncilmemberAllenaskedwhytheCitywouldproceedanyfurtherthanpaymentoftheinvoicesdue withoutit. TheMayorsaidtheconcernwastotakecareofthemural. CouncilmemberMontgomeryanswered CouncilmemberOlson’s commenttotakecareoftheinvoicesbynotingthatoption #3providedforthis,thatthebalance wouldnotbeusedforservicesifthebuildingowner, JohnK.Smither, didnotcompletebuildingrepairs. Mr.Benoit agreed. LindaPease,WynneHomeCoordinator, notedthetestingwasrequiredbytheengineeringfirmandthattheownerwas proceedingwithhisresponsibilities. Shesaidtheotherissueswerenotcriticalandcouldbedoneovertime,thatthe currentdangerwasplasterfallingandthat “stitching”themuralbacktothewallwas whatwasneededcurrently. She recommendedoption #4fromastaffperspective. TheMayoraskedwhatassurancetheCityhadoftheissuenot recurring. Mrs.Peasesaidtherewasnoguarantee. CouncilmemberMontgomeryconfirmedthesafetyrelatedto reattachmentofthemuralwasmostcriticalbecauseofriskoffalling.  CouncilmemberFitchsaidhisconcernwasdoingatemporaryfixthatwouldresultinproblemsdowntheroad. CouncilmemberEmmettaskedMr.Smithertocomespeakabouthisplans. Mr.SmitherthankedtheCityforthe relationshipandagreement. Henotedtheroofdidnotleakbutthathehaddonerecommendedrepairstheyearbefore. Headdedthatnoneoftheengineerswhohadlookedatitbelievedthatthewall wouldfall. Mr.Smithersaidthenails usedoriginallyweretoosmallandthathehadpreparedanareaaroundthewindowlintelthatshouldhavebeendone initially. Henotedthebuildinghadastonefoundationandwasmadeofsandbricks. Mr.Smithercalledthework complex” andappreciatedtheCity’smuralbutnotedthewallwasessentiallyapublicpark. Headdedthatthebidforall repairswas $250,000-600,000forabuildingnotworth $250,000. Mr.Smitherallowedthattheagreementwasforhimto spendanamountequaltotheengineering. CouncilmemberOlsonsaidhecouldseewhereMr.Smither hadactedingoodfaith. Hemadeamotiontoamendthe ordinanceamountto $5,337.00 in payments owed andreferadditionalworktotheCityManager. He wassecondedby CouncilmemberFitch. Mr.BenoitsaidhefeltTerraconwasinvolvedtoreceiveassurancetheworkwasbeingdone correctlyandthatheunderstoodthemotionwouldgivehimauthorityonlytopaythecurrentinvoicesandworkwithMr. Smither. Mr.Benoitaddedthathewouldthenhaveachoicetoaskforanadditionalbudgetamendmentforthebalance ornothavereviewdone. Mrs.PeasesaidindependenttestingwasarequirementofSparksEngineeringandtheburden ofresponsibilitywouldmoveawayfromthemwithoutthesupervision. Theamendmenttothemainmotionpassed,4-3. [ Novotewastakenonthemainmotion.] b. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction toapprovetherenewalofStandardizedGeneralServices Agreement (GSA)betweentheCityofHuntsvilleandthefollowingconsultantsforEngineeringandrelated ProfessionalServices. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofEconomicandCommunityDevelopment – copiesof agreementsavailabletoviewintheCitySecretary’sofficeandontheagendaitempostingontheCitywebsite] 1. AbsoluteEnergySolutions (Absolute) 2. Jones &Carter,Inc. (Jones &Carter) 3. Klotz &Associates,Inc. (Klotz) 4. McClure &BrowneEngineering/ Surveying (McClure &Browne) 5. Schaumburg &Polk,Inc. (SPI) CouncilmemberOlsonmadeamotiontoapprovetherenewalofeachoftheserviceagreementsandwassecondedby CouncilmemberHumphrey. Themotionpassedunanimously, 7-0. 6. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCIL/CITYMANAGER/CITYATTORNEYREPORT a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleactiontoapprovenominationofDr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopment Specialist,asCity’s Section3CoordinatorandSection504StandardsOfficer. [MayorWoodward] TheMayornominatedDr.McKibbenfortheposition. Themotionpassedunanimously, 7-0. b. AnnualupdatefromtheCommunicationsandServiceCommittee. [CouncilmemberFitch] CouncilmemberFitchsaidtheCommitteemetmonthlytodeterminecontentfortheCityConnection andconsistedofhim, Councilmember Montgomery, andDeputyCitySecretaryKristinEdwards. Henotedtherelease ofover125press releasesconcerningallareasoftheCity. CouncilmemberFitchrecalledthesignificantand i“nvaluable” workofMs. Edwardsincreatingandconductingthe2012CitySurvey. HeaddedthattheCommitteehadsoughtcost-saving measuresinthedistributionoftheConnectionbutnotedtheconcerninreachingallpossiblecitizens. TheMayorthanked theCommitteefortheirwork. c. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction,grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. CityManagerMattBenoitsaidtheParkerCreekdrinkingwaterfacilityhadsuccessfullycompletedits National EnvironmentalLaboratoryAccreditationProgram (NELAP) auditattheendof2012andwasoneofonly35such commended. d. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction onconsiderationofinstallationofastreet lightatFM 2821and SmithHillRoad. [CouncilmemberAllen] CouncilmemberAllenmadeamotiontoapprovetheitemandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. TheMayornoted thelightwasinplace. CouncilmemberAllenexpressedhisfrustrationat thedelay ofinstallationandnotbeingableto givehisconstituentsaccurateinformation, andthenaskedtheCityManagerforthecauses. Mr.Benoitsaidheshared theCouncilmember’sfeelingsandnotedthatCouncilmemberAllenhadbeenmadeawarebecauseofhis [Benoit’s]callto himtoapologize. Mr.Benoitsaidthestaffunderstoodthatoneofthemostimportantpartsoftheirworkwastofollowup onCouncilrequests. Themotionpassedunanimously, 7-0. 7. PUBLICCOMMENT Therewerenopubliccomments. 8. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenopubliccomments. 9. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystafffor whichnoactionwillbediscussedortaken.) TheMayornotedtheTrashBashwouldbeheldonMarch2from7:30-12and E-recyclingDaywasonApril6 attherecycling centerandmoreinformationwasonthewebsite. CouncilmemberHumphreyencouragedattendanceattheChamberof CommerceTradeExpo onMarch7attheFairgrounds. CouncilmemberFitchannouncedSHSUbasketballgameson ThursdayeveningandSaturday. TheMayornotedthatthefootballteamwouldbecelebratedathalftimeoftheThursday game. 10. ADJOURNMENT TheMayoradjournedthemeetingat7:01pm. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary