City Council

TH MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE18 DAYOFJUNE2013,INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXAS,AT5:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,JamesFitch,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,KeithOlson,JoeEmmett.RonaldAllen,Clyde Loll COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: TishHumphrey OFFICERSPRESENT:MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary_____________________________ WORKSHOP [5:00PM] –TheCharterReviewCommitteewilldiscussitsprocessandrecommendationswiththeCity Council. RhondaReddoch,Chair, introducedtheCommitteemembersandreviewedtheCommittee’sfinaldocument,dividedintosections onrecommendationstheybelievedsubstantive, itemsthatdealtwithgrammatical ortechnicalchanges,andarticlestheyfeltthe Councilshouldreviewfurther. REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER –Inthepresenceofaquorum, theMayorcalledthemeetingtoorderat6:02pm. 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES –CouncilmemberLollgavetheinvocationandDaltonSmithoftheBoysandGirlsClubledthe pledges. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS PresentationofCharterReviewCommitteemembersandrecommendations –TheMayorthankedtheCommitteefor itshardwork. 4. PUBLICHEARING TheCityCouncilwillreceivepublicinputonOrdinance2013-28toremove501.6Gas &OilWellsfromChapter5ofthe HuntsvilleDevelopmentCode. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment] MayorWoodwardbeganthepublichearingat6:07 p.m. Aron Kulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment, confirmedtheMayor’sstatementthatthisOrdinancewastoresolveconflictbetweentheDevelopmentCodeandtheCityCode ofOrdinances. MayorWoodwardclosedthepublichearingat6:08p.m. 5. PUBLICCOMMENT LaRueSmithreadaletterconcerningloudnoisecomingfromJaidyn’s,Humphrey’s,andTheDraftBarandhereffortsto resolvetheissue. SusanSandersspokeonnoiseemanatingdownAvenueL ½fromtheSamHoustonAvenuebusinesses. ManuelToonyisapropertyowneronAvenueL ½whorelayednoisecomplaintsfromhistenants. CharlesSmither.Jr. calledtheCouncil’sattentionto “questionable” pointshefoundintheHarnessingHuntsvillereportand urgedtheCounciltoreconsiderapprovingthereport. DeloraKing spokeonthehistoryofVeteransMemorialParkwayandinoppositiontoamarkertobeplacedinBillGreen’s honor. 6. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaff recommendations. AnitemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfull discussionbyrequestofamemberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegularSessionheldonJune4,2013. [LeeWoodward, CitySecretary] b. AuthorizetheCityManagertoapproveTaskOrderNo.7withSchaumburgandPolk,Inc. (SPI)forfinaldesignof OldColonyRoadGravitySanitarySewer (OCR)ProjectPhasesV &VI,08-10-31and08-10-32,2ndreading. [Aron Kulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment] c. ApproveOrdinance2013-28toremovesection501.6,GasandOilWellsfromChapter5oftheHuntsville DevelopmentCode,2ndreading. [AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment] d. ApproveOrdinance2013-29toamendChapter14oftheCodeofOrdinancesbyaddinganewarticleVI SecondhandJewelryandPreciousMetal”; nd makingotherprovisionsandfindingsthereto; anddeclaringan effectivedate,2 reading. [CouncilmemberFitch] e. AccepttheHarnessingHuntsville’sPotentialPlan. [Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] f. AuthorizetheCityManagertopurchasea2013PoliceEditionChevroletTahoeforthePoliceChief. [BillieSmith, ProcurementManager] g. AuthorizetheCityManagertopurchasea2013PoliceEditionChevroletTahoe. [BillieSmith,Procurement Manager] h. AdoptOrdinance2013-31amendingtheFY12-13budget. [SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] CouncilmemberOlsonfiledaConflictofInterestformforitemdandleftthedaisfortherelateddiscussion.)  CouncilmemberEmmettmovedtoapprovetheConsentAgendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberLoll. CouncilmemberJohnsonaddressedthepossibleerrorsinitemeandaskediftheitemcouldbeapprovedforcorrection, askedfor itemsfandgtobeclarified,andpulleditemd. CouncilmemberJohnsonaskedthatitemebepulledforstaff reviewandcorrection, nottobe approved. SteveRitter, InterimFinanceDirector,clarifiedthatitemseandfwere insuranceandforfeiture/seizurefundpurchases. Themotionforitemsa,b,c,f,g,andhpassedunanimously, 8-0. CouncilmemberFitchmovedtoapproveitemd andwassecondedbyCouncilmember Emmett. CouncilmemberJohnson expressedconcernoverthefifteen-daywaitperiod. CouncilmemberFitchpointedouttheprotectionswerefor burglary victimssothatprecious metalproductswouldnotbequicklymelteddown; whichwasnotatypicalissueinapawnshop. CouncilmembersAllenandEmmettagreed,Emmettnotingpawnshopshadaforty-five-dayretention. Councilmember MontgomeryaskedaboutthebreadthoftheintentandLeonardSchneider, CityAttorney, referredtothedefinitionsinthe ordinance. CouncilmemberFitchmovedtoamendbyinserting “crafted”beforeallinstancesof “preciousmetal”andwassecondedby CouncilmemberLoll. Theamendmentpassedunanimously, 7-0. Themainmotionpassedunanimously, 7-0. 7. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation,discussion, andpossibleaction toauthorizeaninterlocalagreementbetweenWalkerCountyand theCityofHuntsvilleforconsultingservicestodevelopaRequestforProposal (RFP) forClinicAdministrators forapossibleEmployeeMedicalClinic. [MissyDavidson,InterimHumanResourcesDirector] CouncilmemberJohnson movedtoauthorizetheinterlocalagreementandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Montgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously, 8-0. b. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction toauthorizetheCityManagertoapplyforthe2013EdwardByrne MemorialJusticeAssistanceGrant (JAG)ProgramandenterintoaninterlocalagreementwithWalkerCounty. Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] CouncilmemberMontgomerymovedtoauthorizetheCityManagertoapplyforthe2013EdwardByrneMemorialJustice AssistanceGrant (JAG)ProgramandenterintoaninterlocalagreementwithWalkerCountyandwassecondedby CouncilmemberAllen. Themotionpassedunanimously,8-0. c. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toadoptOrdinance2013-30amendingtheCityofHuntsville,Texas CodeofOrdinances, specificallyChapter32 “OFFENSESANDMISCELLANEOUSPROVISIONS”, more specifically “Sec.32-33Door-to-doorsolicitors, hawkers, st etc.”; providingforapenalty;makingotherprovisions andfindingsthereto; anddeclaringaneffectivedate,1 reading. [ChiefKevinLunsford, DirectorofPublicSafety] KevinLunsford, DirectorofPublicSafety,notedtheOrdinancewouldsupplyamechanismtodenypermitsforprior violations, providemorecontrolsonsoliciting,andprohibit panhandling. CouncilmemberEmmettwastoldcharitable organizationsandreligiousgroupswouldbeexemptedfromtherequirements. CouncilmemberMontgomeryaskedabout homelesspeoplewhoaskedforridesandwastoldtheintentwasforissuesinpublicplaces. 8. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCIL/CITYMANAGERANDCITYATTORNEYREPORT a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toapproveplacementofacommemorativeplaqueonVeteran’s MemorialParkway. [MayorWoodward] MayorWoodward movedtoapproveplacementofacommemorativeplaqueonVeteran’sMemorialParkwayandwas secondedbyCouncilmember Johnson. FormerMayorMorrisWallercommendedtheCouncilfortheirservice. Hegave examplesofotherlocalnotablecivil servantsanddignitarieswhohadbeendistinguished withnaminghonors, sayinghefeltitappropriatetorecognizethose whobroughtVeteransMemorialParkwayintobeing. Hesaidmoneyfortheplaquewastoberaisedprivatelyandthatthe Citywouldbeaskedtohelpwiththeexpenseofthemonumentonwhichitwouldbeinstalled. Mr.WallerdescribedBill GreenasoneofthemostcapablemayorstheCityhadeverhad. CouncilmemberAllenreadtheproposedwordingofthe plaque, objectingtothecharacterizationof “courage.” Hesaidhefeltthewordingwasa “paid,politicaladvertising” forBill Green,termingit l“udicrous.” Mr.Wallersaid “courage”referredtosomeonewhoproceededagainstgreatodds. CouncilmemberFitchexpressedasensethatsuchaplaquewastypicalonabuildingbutaskedifanyotherswereon roads. TheMayorsaidtherewasstaterecognitiononI-45,possiblyoneona countybridge,andsomeonstreetsorfire stations. CouncilmemberMontgomerynotedhergratitudefortheroadduringthehurricane. Mr.Walleragreedto withdrawtherequestfortheCitytopayforthemonument. CouncilmemberEmmettagreedontheusefulnessoftheroad, thathewasappreciativeofitandhefeltMr.Greenshouldbesalutedforputtingitin. Themotionpassed,7-1,CouncilmemberAllenvotingagainst. b. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toapprovethenominationofDanaNicolaytoanopenpositionon theHotelOccupancyTaxBoard. [MayorWoodward]  MayorWoodwardnominatedDanaNicolaytoanopenpositionontheHotelOccupancyTaxBoard. Themotionpassed unanimously,8-0. c. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction onthenominationofPattillo,Brown, &Hill,LLPastheCertified PublicAccountantfortheCityforFY2012-13auditingandreporting. [MayorWoodward] MayorWoodward nominatedPattillo,Brown, &Hill,LLPastheCertifiedPublicAccountantfortheCityforFY2012-13 auditingandreporting andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. Themotionpassedunanimously,8-0. d. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction toauthorize theCityManagertobegintheprocessof draftinga preservationordinance. [MayorWoodward] MayorWoodwardmovedtoauthorizetheCityManagertobegintheprocessofdraftingapreservationordinanceandwas secondedbyCouncilmembersMontgomeryandLoll. Themotionpassedunanimously. e. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleactionofpotentialresignationofCouncilmemberFitch. [Councilmember Fitch] CouncilmemberFitchsaidhehadalwaysexpectedtoserveseveraltermsonCouncil, butachangeofemployment necessitatedhisresignation. HethankedCityemployees, citizens, themembersofCityCouncil, andchargedthe Councilmemberstorememberwhytheyserved. TheMayorsaidithadbeen anhonorandprivilegetoservewith CouncilmemberFitchandhowmuchhe had appreciatedhiswork. CouncilmemberMontgomerytoldCouncilmember Fitchhowmuchshehadlearnedfromhimandthe valueofhisperspective. Withoutobjection, theMayorchosenotto takeaction. f. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. TheCityManagerhadnoreport. 9. PUBLICCOMMENT DickLindemanthankedCouncilmemberFitchforhisvoteonseveralitemsofhistimeontheCouncil,suchasthetaxincrease andtheBuxtoncontract. DeloraKingthankedCouncilmemberFitchandsaidsheknewhewasheadedforgoodthingsinhisfuture. MarionWagamonthankedCouncilmemberFitchasamodelforpublicservice “sobadlyneededatalllevelsofdemocratic government.” CharlesWagamoncommendedCouncilmemberFitchforwisdomandcourageinhisservice. 10. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA BrandonScottofTheHuntsvilleItemaskedaboutalocalpropertyownerwhoappearedonaneconomicdevelopmentrequest. TheMayorreportedtheCounciltooknoactionatthatmeeting,norsince. LauraAnnSolomon, anewmemberofThe HuntsvilleItem,receivedtheyearsofCouncilmemberFitch’stermofservice. 11. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor, Councilmembers, andCitystaffforwhichno actionwillbediscussedortaken.) TheMayorannouncedtheFarmersMarketwouldcontinuethroughJuly27onSaturdaysfrom8-12. Heremindedeveryone thatpublichearingsonpotentialCharterchangeswouldbeheldatthemeetingsonJuly2and16,theCouncilwouldconsider changesatthe meetingsonJuly16andAugust6,andthatelectionswouldbecalledatthemeetingonAugust20. Mayor Woodwardurgedthepublictotakepartintheprocess. TheMayorannouncedtheCity’snewe-newsletterwasreleasedJune 17. TheMayorannouncedthe readingoftheDeclarationofIndependenceattheCourthousegazeboonJune3atnoon. Dr. SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist, saidrepresentativeswouldbeatthelibraryfrom4-7pmonJune20for anadditionalroundoffundingforHurricaneIkerecoveryandresidentialrepair. Shesaidrentalmonieswouldbeavailableat theHouston-GalvestonAreaCouncil (H-GAC)officeinHoustononJuly10from9-12anddetailswereavailablethroughher office. 12. EXECUTIVESESSION a. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,551.071and551.087 – deliberationregardingeconomicdevelopmentnegotiationinvolvingprojectHogwarts. [MattBenoit,City Manager,andAronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment] TheMayoradjournedtheCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat7:33p.m. ( CouncilmemberFitchdidnotattend.) 13. RECONVENE  Takeaction,ifnecessary,onitemsaddressedduringExecutiveSession. TheMayoradjournedtheCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat8:15p.m. Nofurtheractionwastaken. 14. ADJOURNMENT MayorWoodwardadjournedthemeetingat8:17pm. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary