City Council

ND MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE2 DAYOFAPRIL 2013, INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXAS,AT5:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,JamesFitch,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,KeithOlson,JoeEmmett,TishHumphrey,Ronald Allen,ClydeLoll COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: None OFFICERSPRESENT: MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary__________________________________ WORKSHOPSESSION [5:00PM] –CityCouncilwillmeettoconsiderthepurchaseofassetmanagementsoftwaretoinclude relatedequipmentandfees. [CarolReed,DirectorofPublicWorks,ChrisVasquez,ITDirector,andEricPena,SeniorGIS Specialist] ChrisVasquezaddressedSynergenandOraclereplacementpriorities relatedtoIT,trainingandreportingconcerns, andhistoryofthe RFPprocess. EricPenapresentedrelevantCityassetsthatwouldbeinvolvedandsoftwarerelationtoGIS. BrentWilsonofCityWorks providedexamplesofwaysthesoftwarecouldbeutilized. CarolReedexplainedtheimportanceofassetmanagementdataandits accessibilityindecision-making. REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER – Inthepresenceofaquorum, MayorWoodwardcalledthemeetingtoorderat6:01pm. 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES - CouncilmemberJohnsongavetheinvocation. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS FairHousingMonth SHSUInternPresentation – Jessica RodriguezofMainStreet, ShirleyTeyoftheWynneHome, CameronKingandJoseAuz of theHuntsvillePoliceDepartment SafeDiggingMonth –BobbySmithacceptedonbehalfofCenterPointEnergy 4. PUBLICCOMMENT Therewasnopubliccomment. 5. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. An itemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofamemberof Council.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegularSessions heldonMarch 5,2013andMarch 19, 2013,andthe WorkshopheldonMarch18,2013. [LeeWoodward,CitySecretary] b. ApproveOrdinance2013-20amendingtheCityofHuntsville,TexasCodeofOrdinances,specificallyChapter8 “Animalsand Fowl”; providingforapenalty; makingotherprovisionsandfindingsthereto; anddeclaringaneffectivedate,2ndreading. ChiefKevinLunsford,DirectorofPublicSafety] CouncilmemberHumphreymovedtoapproveitemaandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberAllen. Theitemwasmovedagain byCouncilmemberMontgomeryandsecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. CouncilmemberAllenconfirmedthatminutesofallworkshopsroutinelycamebeforetheCouncilforapproval. Themotionpassedunanimously. CouncilmemberFitchmovedtoapproveitembandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Allen. CouncilmemberHumphreyandChiefLunsfordnoteddisagreementbetweenSection8-6,itemcandSection8-8,itemb (18) andrecommendedstrikingSection8-6candinSection8-8,itemb (18)striking “,butnotincluding” andinserting “and.” CouncilmemberHumphreymovedtoamendtheordinanceasChiefLunsfordrecommended andwassecondedby CouncilmemberJohnson. Discussionoccurredastothefactthatmoreamendmentstothedocumentwereexpected. Without objection,CouncilmemberHumphreywithdrewhermotionandCouncilmember Johnsonwithdrewhissecond. CouncilmemberHumphreyaskedtheChieftoaddressSection8-89,whichhedidbysayingthathethoughttheoriginalintent wasfornotificationatbusinesseswithguarddogs. Hesuggesteddefining “guarddog”andmakeclearwhetherthiswas applicableforcommercialpropertyonly. CouncilmemberHumphreynoted “guarddog”hadbeendefinedelsewhere inthe language. ChiefLunsfordansweredCouncilmemberMontgomery’s questionastotheintentbeingforcommercialproperty, sayinghebelieveditwasbutthattheCouncilcouldcertainlyextendittoresidential aswell. CouncilmemberFitchsuggested striking “anybuilding” andinsert “anycommercialproperty.” CouncilmemberHumphreymovedtoamendSection8-6,item3bystrikingitandamendingSection8-8item8bystriking “,but notincluding” andinserting “and,”andamendingSection8-89perCouncilmemberFitch’s suggestionandwassecondedby CouncilmemberOlson. Theamendmentpassedunanimously. CouncilmemberJohnsonconfirmedtheinsertionof i“ntheenclosedportion” and “outside” temperatureintoSection8-9since theMarch19,2013meeting,andobservedtherewerenochangesmadeinSection8-6 (2)(A-C)onfreerangechickens. Theoriginalmotionpassedunanimously, asamended. 6. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toconsiderAddendumAtotheChapter380agreementwithHuntsville HotelGroupLLCforawaiverofpermitandtapfeesnottoexceed $15,000. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityand EconomicDevelopment] CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoapprovetheconsentagendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Humphrey. CouncilmemberOlsonnotedthiswasarepeatoftheactionapprovedpreviously. CouncilmemberFitchagreedbutquestioned whytherehadbeennoprogressintwoyearsandaskedforsomereassurance. AronKulhavy, DirectorofCommunityand EconomicDevelopment, saidtheCountydidnothaveamechanismtwoyearsagotoexecutetheirportionoftheagreement butthatitwasdoneinDecember2012. CouncilmemberFitchexpresseddisbeliefthatconstructionwasheldupby $15,000 andthathewasconcernedaboutrenewingtheagreement. CouncilmemberAllenconfirmedthedeveloperfeltthiswasa reasonhehadnotproceeded. CouncilmemberJohnsonagreedwithCouncilmemberFitchwhilenotingtherewasnoriskto theCitytoextendingtheofferandencouragedthedeveloper. CouncilmemberLollaskediftherewasanysignalastotheircommitmentandtimetable. Mr.Kulhavysaidbuildingplanshad beensubmittedandreviewedandheunderstoodtheintentwastobeginthismonth. CouncilmemberFitchsaidhewouldlike topointoutthata $ 6millionhotelhadbeenheldupfortwenty-onemonthsover $15,000. CouncilmemberHumphreysaidshe feltitwastheonlyreasonthatMr.Kulhavyknewofbutthattherecouldbeotherconsiderationsbutthatifallrequirements weremetshesawnodanger. CouncilmemberAllenquestionedMr.Kulhavyandwastolditwasacontributingfactor. Healso askedMr.KulhavywhentheCityreceivedtheplansandwastoldaroundJanuary2013. TheMayorsaidtheCitywasbeing askedtomakeanagreementwiththedeveloperanditwasnotdependentonanyagreementwiththeCounty,notingthat benefitsweredependentonperformancemeasures. CouncilmemberFitchreferred, however, totheagreement’sprovision thatthe $15,000wouldbewaivedupfront,notasaresultofperformance, andthatrecoursewasrepayment,notrefund. LeonardSchneider, CityAttorney, saidCouncilmemberFitchraisedagoodpointandreferredtotheadditionofthelastlinein Section2.7givingtheCityalienonthepropertyassecurity. CouncilmemberOlsonremindedallthattheCitycouldrefusea CertificateofOccupancyifpaymentwasowedatcompletionandthathebelievedtherewassomegoodfaithestablished throughthedeveloper’srecentactions. CouncilmemberFitchmovedtoamendtheaddendumthattheCitywouldrebatefeesupto $15,000ratherthanwaivefees initiallyandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberAllen. Theamendmentwaslost,6-3,CouncilmembersAllen,Fitch,andEmmett votinginsupport. Theoriginalmotionpassed,7-2,CouncilmembersAllenandFitchvotingagainst. b. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toconsiderthepurchaseofCRS-2AsphaltEmulsiontobeusedbythe StreetDivision. [BillieSmith,ProcurementManager] Councilmember Johnson movedtoapprovetheitem andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. Themotionpassed unanimously. c. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction tocontractwithJamesDuncanandAssociatesfortheHuntsville DevelopmentCodeUpdate. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunity &EconomicDevelopment] CouncilmemberHumphreymovedtoapprovetheitemandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Olson. Mr.KulhavynotedMr.DuncanandhisassociateKirkBishop, ProjectManager,werepresent. CouncilmemberHumphreysaid shewasbotheredbythedelayintheissueandthatithadhurttheCity. Shesaidshewaspleasedbytheitemandthatit wouldimprovestability. CouncilmemberMontgomeryaskedabriefoverviewofthescopeandprocessbeenteredintothe minutes. Mr.Bishopsaidtheyhopedtodeterminecommunityvaluesandobjectivesandwouldcoordinatewiththestaff.Hesaidthey woulddraftordinancesforconsiderationbythePlanningandZoningCommission (P&Z)andcitizenstakeholders. Mr.Bishop saiddraftswouldresultinjointsessionswiththeCouncilandP&Z,whichhethoughtwouldtakeaboutninemonths, then engageinthepublicportionoftheprocess. CouncilmemberOlsonaskedthattheP&ZCommissionersberecognizedfortheir workanddedicationinthiseffort. Themotionpassedunanimously. d. Presentation,discussion, andpossibleaction toconsiderthepurchaseofaHazMatChemicalIdentifierincludingall softwareandequipmentperthemanufacturer’ssuggestedrequirements. [FireChiefTomGrishamandDr.Sherry McKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] CouncilmemberHumphrey movedtoapprovethepurchase andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberMontgomery. Themotion passedunanimously. e. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleactiontoauthorizethe retentionofGeorgeHyde,Attorney,forlegal representationoftheCityonpersonnelmatters. [LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney] CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoapprovetheitemandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Johnson. Mr.SchneidernotedtheCharterauthoritytohireadditionallegalrepresentationandalsotherightofemployeestoappeal terminationtotheCityCouncil. Henotedtheothercounselwouldrepresentthe “decision”toterminateandthatasituation wascurrentlyinprocess.  Themotionpassedunanimously. 7. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCILANDCITYMANAGERREPORT a. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. 2. BudgetPolicy-settingOverview -Consideritemsofinteresttobegivenpriorityinbudgetcompilationthisspring. Mr.KulhavypresentedinformationontheMunicipalAirport,noting90%ofprojectfundingcamefromfederalandTxDoT grants. Theseincludedengineeringdesign, runwaylighting, windconereplacement, andelectricalvaultandhomerun replacementgoingonnowand2013capitalprojectsincludingapronreconstruction, drainageimprovements, wildlife fencing, andrunwayandtaxiwaysealcoatandmarking. Mr.Kulhavysaid2014improvementsshouldcover taxiway reconstruction, weatherstationrelocation, runwayrepairsandoverlay,andanupdatetotheairportmasterplanincluding arunwayextension. CouncilmemberOlsonconfirmedGulfstreamjetscouldflyintotheairportat the current runway length. CouncilmemberMontgomerywastoldtheextendedrunwaylengthwasnotconfirmed, butmostlikelywouldgo from500feetto1000feetbeforerequiringrelocationoftheairport. Mr.BenoitaskedtheCounciltoprovidehimwiththeirinterestsandconcernsastheCityManagerpreparedthedraft budget. HesaidhewouldliketheCouncilinvolvedintheprocessearlyandoftenandthatheanticipatedmanybudget discussions,hopingtoreceivetheirinput. InterimFinanceDirectorSteveRittergaveabudgetpreview (availablefromthe CitySecretaryandontheCitywebsite), notingthiswasforaboutfive-and-a-halfmonthsintotheyearcombinedwith projections. Overall,GeneralFundexpenditures werecurrentlyexpectedtoexceedrevenuesalthoughMr.Ritterurged cautionatthispoint. Henotedsalestaxandpropertytaxweregenerallyassumedtobeflat. MayorWoodwardaskedaboutunallocatedreservesintheGeneralFundinexcessof25%andthattheCouncilcould choosetousesomefortheMedicalFund. Mr.Benoitallowedthatwaspossiblewhilenotingotherissuemayariseinthe meantimeorthattheCouncilmaychooseotherpriorities. Mr.Ritternotedtheitemsforconsiderationwerenotranked andwereonlyoptions. WaterFundrevenuesweredown,inpart,Mr.Ritterbelieved, duetoconservationandreduced usage. Henotedtheuniversitywasdownbyabout30%. Mr.RitterandtheMayorrecalledthattherehadbeentwoyears ofhigherincreasesinwaterratesbutthatthecomingyearwasasmalleramount. TheMayoraskedthattheCity Managertrytodeterminewhatdecreasetheremightbeinexpenseswhenlesswaterwassold. Mr.BenoitaddressedtheproposedbudgetcalendarandaskedtheCouncilabouttheirpreferenceforformat. Mayor WoodwardaskedthatatleastthefirstmeetingbeseparatefromaCouncilmeetinganddeterminefromthere. Henoted theCouncil’s additionalyearofexperienceandpreparation. Mr.BenoitsaidhewouldbehappytovisitwiththeCouncil ontheirquestions. CouncilmemberFitchsaiditseemedexpenseswerealreadyshortbyabout $1.8 million. CouncilmemberHumphreythankedMr.Ritterfordatingthepresentationandaskingthatbeconstantthroughoutthe process. Mr.RitterthankedLaurieO’BrienforthatandthankedBeckyRowleyforhersignificantinput. Councilmember OlsonnotedthereporthadbeenreviewedintheFinanceCommitteeandseemedtobeinagreementinconcernsover timing,emotionaldecision-making,andtheneedfordetailedreview. 8. PUBLICCOMMENT Therewerenopubliccomments. 9. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenomediainquiries. 10. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystaffforwhichnoactionwillbediscussedortaken.) TheMayornotedtheFairParade wouldbeApril4at7pmandSaturdaywas E-recyclingDayattheTransferStation. Hesaid therewouldbeachangingoftheflagsatSamHouston’sgraveonApril21. MayorWoodwardannouncedthegrandopeningofthe Highway19expansiononApril26at10am, Chick-fil-ALeaderCast onMay10at SHSU,anddedicationoftheVietnamVeterans WalkwayonMay11attheHEARTSMuseum. 11. EXECUTIVESESSION a. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551, Section551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheevaluationandjobdutiesofCityAttorney,LeonardSchneider. [MayorWoodward] b. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551,Section551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheevaluationofCityJudgeJohnGaines. [MayorWoodward] c. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551,Section551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheevaluationofCitySecretaryLeeWoodward,part3of3. [MayorWoodward] TheMayoradjournedtheCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat7:44p.m. 12. RECONVENE a. Takeaction,ifnecessary,onitemsaddressedduringExecutiveSession. MayorWoodwardreconvenedthemeetingat8:52 p.m. CouncilmemberFitchmovedtoamendtheCitySecretary’scontract toconditionsdiscussedinExecutiveSession. Themotionwasunanimouslyapproved. 13. ADJOURNMENT MayorWoodwardadjournedthemeetingat8:53pm. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary