City Council

TH MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE5 DAYOFMARCH 2013, INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXAS, AT5:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: JamesFitch,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,JoeEmmett,TishHumphrey,RonaldAllen,ClydeLoll COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: MacWoodward,KeithOlson OFFICERSPRESENT:MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary____________________________________ WORKSHOPSESSION [5:00PM –LARGECONFERENCEROOM] – CityCouncilmettodiscussupdatestotheCityCouncilRules ofProcedure. TheCouncilmetforinitialannualreviewed anddiscussionof proposedupdatestotheRulesofProcedure. MayorProTemJohnson thankedCouncilmembers MontgomeryandHumphreyfortheirworkonthedocument. CouncilmemberMontgomerynotedthebroad groupsofchangessuchasCouncilcomportmentandbringingmotionsmoreinlinewithRobert’sRulesofOrder. CouncilmemberAllen expresseddiscomfortwithsectionsofthedocumenthedeclinedtoidentifypriortothe6:00pmmeeting. CouncilmemberLollsuggested furtherreviewataSaturdayworkshoptobescheduled. Note: AnaudiorecordingofeveryworkshopisavailablethroughtheCitySecretary’s officeandisheldasapermanentrecord. REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER - InthepresenceofaquorumandinMayorWoodward’s absence,MayorProTemDonJohnsoncalledthe meetingtoorderat6:00pm. 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES – CouncilmemberHumphreygavetheinvocationandGirlScoutJenniferSpinksledthepledges. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS MayorProTemJohnsonintroducedthe2013MissCapitolofTexasAmeeraSwaidenandsheinturnintroducedMissSam HoustonandMissAllen,Texas. TheysangHappyBirthdaytoCouncilmemberRonAllen. ProclamationforTexasWeek ProclamationforSevereWeatherAwarenessWeek 4. PUBLICCOMMENT ApubliccommentwassubmittedinwritingbyJohnKerrSmitherfordistributiontotheCouncilthankingthemfortheiractiononthe muralonhisbuildingandinvitingthemtocomeviewthework. 5. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. An itemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofamemberof Council.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegularSessionheldonFebruary19, 2013. [LeeWoodward,CitySecretary] b. ApproveOrdinance2013-17toamendthebudgetforFY12-13. [SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] c. Approvepurchaseof ½- tonextendedcabpickup, ¾-tonextendedcabpickup,andcancellationofpreviouspurchase order. [BillieSmith,ProcurementManager] CouncilmemberHumphreymovedtoapprovetheConsentAgendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberLoll. Themotion carriedunanimously, 7-0. 6. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toauthorizetheCityManagertorequestparticipationintheHOME InvestmentPartnershipProgramReservationSystemwiththeTexasDepartmentofHousingandCommunityAffairs TDHCA)andapproveResolution2013-04insupportofsame. [Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopment Specialist] CouncilmemberMontgomery movedtoauthorizeparticipationandapproveResolution2013-04andwassecondedby CouncilmemberEmmett. Themotioncarriedunanimously, 7-0. b. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleactiontoconsideranengineeringcontractwithKlotzandAssociatesforthe budgetedTownCreekHorseBranch TributaryWatershedStudy. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomic Development] CouncilmemberMontgomerymovedtoapprovetheengineeringcontractandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberHumphrey. CouncilmemberEmmettaskedAronKulhavy, DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment, forabrief. Mr.Kulhavysaid thiswasthenextphaseofthedrainagemasterplanandwaspartofevaluatingtheTownCreekwatershed. Heremindedthe Councilthattheplanwastodotwosuchstudiesayeartobecombinedinthefifthyearforaplan. CouncilmemberMontgomery askedaboutthefiscalimpactandnotedthecontractwascominginjustover $10,000lessthanbudgeted. Themotioncarriedunanimously, 7-0. 7. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCILANDCITYMANAGERREPORT a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toapproveMayoralnominationofDevonOliviertoanunexpiredtermon theYouthAdvisoryBoard. [MayorWoodward] InMayorWoodward’sabsence, MayorProTemJohnsonnominatedDevonOliviertotheunexpiredtermontheYouthAdvisory Board. Themotioncarriedunanimously, 7-0.  b. Discussion oftheproposedupdatestotheRulesofProcedure. [CouncilmemberAllen] CouncilmemberAllen, readingfromapreparedstatement, saidhehadreadtheproposedupdatesandhadconcernsthathefelt thepolicyattemptedtodictateprivateconversationsconductedbyCouncilmembers, reading fromSection4.01 i“nprivate conversations thatthesamelevelofrespectandconsiderationofdifferingpointsofviewthatisdeemedappropriateforpublic discussionsshallbemaintained.” Hesaidthathemaywanttodisagreewithsomeoneelse’spointofviewanddidnotwanttobe censored. Councilmember Allenalsoread fromSection4.02onCouncilrelationswiththemedia that “thebestadvicefor speakingwiththemediaistonevergo “offtherecord” andsaidit r“eekedofcensorship.” Hesaidthatthepolicyreferredto sanctions,suggesting thatsanctioningshouldperhapsbeginwithhim. CouncilmemberAllensaidtheBillofRightsassured freedomofspeechandaskedtheCityAttorneyiftheproposedchangesviolatedfreedomofspeech. SomeofCouncilmemberAllen’sconcerns, expressedunder morecontrolinCouncilthanintheprecedingworkshop,were addressedbyvarious Councilmembersduringtheworkshop. ProposedchangestotheCouncilRulesofProcedurewere borrowedfromasimilardocumentfromtheCityofHutto,whereofficialshaveinvitedothercitycouncilstoadopttheirsuccessful internalrulesofoperation. MayorProTemJohnsonsaidaworkshoponthedocumenthadbeenheldat5pmandthattheRulesofProcedurewasan internaldocumenttheCouncilreviewedannuallyfortheirownconduct,and notto beconfusedwiththeCityCharter, currently underreviewbyacitizencommittee. HesaidtheCouncilhadchosentoworkfurtheronthedocumenttodiscussconcerns, notinggeneral Councilcirculationfor thepast fiveorsixweeks. TheMayorProTemsaid Councilinput onchangeshadbeen soughtbutnotreceivedandthattherewasnohurry. CouncilmemberMontgomerysaid, thechangeswerefrom l“arge, wordyparagraphs” reducedtolinestoallowfordiscussionand partofafluiddocumentintendedforchangeandopentoinputfromallCouncilmembers. Shereadthenexttwosentencesfrom theproposedmediasection, “Manymembersofthemediarepresentthehighestlevelofjournalisticintegrityandethics,andcan betrustedtokeeptheirword. However, wordsthatarenotsaidcannotbequotedormisquoted.” Shenoted thepointwasthat anythingsaidcouldbereportedand thatwhileCouncilmemberswerefreetosaywhatevertheyliked, “offtherecord”should neverbe strictly construedassuch,asanythingsaidcouldbereported. ShesaidshewasgladCouncilmemberAllenhad broughthisconcernsforward butwishedtheyhadbeenoffered soonersothey couldbeaddressed. Councilmember MontgomeryurgedallCouncilmemberstoreviewthedocument, describingtheneedforthemtoworktogether.”Ijustwanttosay thatthesewerelarge,wordyparagraphsthatwerereducedtosingle-linesentencessothatwewouldhaveabroadareato discuss, andthisisaworking, fluiddocumentintendedforchangeandinputfromallCouncilmembers. Itistheintentionofthis committeetobangoutadocumentthatwecouldalllivewith.Idohavetomakenote,inreferencetothemedia, therestofthat statementsays, “Thebestadvicewithspeakingwiththemediaisnevertogoofftherecordmedia.Manyofthemembersofthe mediarepresentthehighestlevelofjournalisticintegrityandethicsandcanbetrustedtokeeptheirword.However,wordsthat arenotsaidcannotbequotedormisquoted.” Idowanttomakenotethatthepointofthatwasthatyoudon’tnecessarilyspeakto anybodythinkingthatyourwordswillnoteverbeused,soyoucanspeakfreely, saywhatyouwill,butofftherecordisreallynot necessarilytrue.Peoplearefreetoprintwhateveryousayandthatwasthepointofthat.Ifthatlanguageneedstobecleaned up,we’recertainlyopentocleaningitup,andanythingelseinthisdocument. Thepointofthiscommitteewastobringhere, to theCouncil, everythingherefortoreview. Fromthere,wewillcomeupwiththebestterms,thebestpoliciesandwewillmove forward.Thatismyinput,I’m gladMr.Allenhassharedwithmehisconcerns, Iwishhehadbroughtittomesooner. Wewould havediscussedthatissueinparticulartonightintheworkshop. Itwasnotbroughttomesooner,andthat’s okay,nowIknow I canaddressit,notonlymebutallofus.Iwanttourgeeverybodytogothroughthisdocumentbecausewhatiswrittenmaynot readwiththetrueintentofwhatit’smeanttosay,soweneedtocleanupthelanguage. We’reacouncil, we’resittinghere together, we’vegottoworktogether. WorkingtogetherensuresthebestoutcomeforthecommunityandIappreciateeverybody doingthat.” WithnocallforactionbyCouncilmemberAllen,theissuereceivedminimalotherdiscussionfromtheCouncil. Councilmember Montgomerymadeneededclarificationsandcorrections (above) toassumptionsandomissionsofCouncilmemberAllen’s presentation. Theissuewasclosedwiththeintentthatconcernswouldbediscussedandresolvedinanotherworkshopbefore officialactionisplacedontheCouncilagenda. c. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. CityManagerMattBenoitgavefollowupontheBeautificationBoardGolfTournament, notingJosephWiggs,Parks Superintendent, hadmadeahole-in-one,andthatabout $2,000.00wasraisedforbeautificationprojects. Headdedthatthe CitywouldhaveeightboothsattheMarch7ChamberofCommerceTradeExpofrom4:00-7:30pm. Mr.BenoitannouncedBeckyRowley, BudgetManager,hadenabledtheCity’sreceiptoftheGovernmentFinanceOfficers Association budgetpresentation award, forclarityandlegibilityinthebudgetdocument. Mr.BenoitsaidtheCityhad receivedtheTexasComptroller’sGoldCircleAwardandsaidtheCitydidaverygoodjobinthiscomparedtosomeothers. 8. PUBLICCOMMENT Therewerenopubliccomments. 9. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA BrandonScottofTheHuntsvilleItemaskedabouttheprocessofaddingtheproposedmediawording intheRulesofProcedure. CouncilmemberMontgomeryandtheCitySecretarynotedthematerialconsideredwasfromtheCityofHutto’s CouncilRelations Policy andanadditiontothedocument. CouncilmemberMontgomeryexpandeduponthis, sayingtherewasalotofinformation condensedtotheformnowbeingconsidered, againurgingtheCouncil’sparticipationinrefiningthedocument.” Ijustwanttoclarify thattherewas alotofinformation, thisisaboileddown, condensedversionoftheinformation. Becauseit’salotofinformation, it  definitelyneedstobediscussedandweneedeverybody’sinput,becausetheseareourrules.Thisiswhatwemakeadecisionon,if wewanttheserulesornot.Thecouncilmaygettogetherandstrikeanythingthattheydon’twant, orchangetheverbiageorchange thewordingorwhatever, ordecidethat,youknowwhat,wedon’treallyneedthis.Thisisaworkingdocument,notintendedtobea finishedproductwhatsoever, andthiswaspresentedandobviouslywestillneedworkandstillneedtotalkaboutmanyoftheissues.” 10. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystaffforwhichnoactionwill bediscussedortaken.) MayorProTemJohnsonannouncedtheLion’s ClubRavenRideonMarch9andthatitwasMS-150-sanctioned. Hereminded everyoneoftheApril6E-recyclingeventtooccurattheCityRecyclingCenter. MayorProTemJohnsonremindedallof themany eventsoccurringwiththeFestivalInspiracion forthenexttwoweeks. HenotedChick-fil-A LeaderCastwouldbeheldatSHSUon May10,callingitoneofthemostpositivedaysoftheyearinthecommunity. CouncilmemberMontgomeryapplaudedthestudents whoparticipatedthroughoutthecommunityinAllPawsInlastSaturday,sayingtheywereincredibleandmadeasignificantdifference throughtheirefforts. 11. EXECUTIVESESSION a. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,551.071and551.087 – deliberationregardingeconomicdevelopmentnegotiationinvolvingproject,andtoreceivelegaladviceondevelopment negotiationsandcontracts. [MattBenoit,CityManager, andAronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomic Development] b. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551,Section551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheevaluationofCitySecretaryLeeWoodward,part1of3. [ MayorWoodward] MayorProTemJohnsonadjournedtheCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat6:39p.m. 12. RECONVENE a. Takeaction,ifnecessary,onitemsaddressedduringExecutiveSession. MayorProTemJohnsonreconvenedthemeetingat7:53p.m. Hesaidtherewasnoadditionalbusinesstobeconducted. 13. ADJOURNMENT MayorProTemJohnsonadjournedthemeetingat7:53pm. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary