City Council

ND MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE2DAYOFJULY 2013,INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXAS,AT6:00PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,LydiaMontgomery, DonH.Johnson,KeithOlson,JoeEmmett.TishHumphrey,RonaldAllen,Clyde Loll COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: None OFFICERSPRESENT:MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary_____________________________ REGULARSESSION [6:00PM] 1. CALLTOORDER 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES U.S.Flag TexasFlag: HonortheTexasFlag. Ipledgeallegiancetothee,Texas,onestate,underGod,one,andindivisible. 3. PUBLICHEARING TheCityCouncilwillreceivepublicinputonproposalsforCharteramendmentsfortheNovemberballot. MayorWoodwardbeganthepublichearingat6:03p.m. Mr.CharlesSmither, Jr.spokeontheCharterConflictofInterestprovision, addressingstatelawexceptionsandurgingequal treatmentofallbusinesses, includingSHSU. DickLindemanechoedMr.Smither’s commentthathavingindividualsfromSHSUontheCouncilbutaskedforrecognitionof potentialconflict. HeaskedtheCounciltoconsideroptionson At-LargeversusWardmakeupoftheCityCouncilbefore makingadecision. Mr.Lindemanalsosuggestedoptionsforaresidencyrequirement, eithereliminatingtherequirementor establishingrules, perhapsincludingarequirementforbeingaqualifiedvoter. Finally, headdressedtransparencyandhis proposalsforadditionalrecordingofCityCouncil, andCityBoardandCommissionmeetings. KarlDavidsonaskedtheCityCounciltoconsiderproposalswithanopenmind. HesaidhebelievedtheCouncilsizeshould bereducedtofivememberstopreventunduerepresentationfromageographicareaoftheCity. Healsosuggestedthe Counciltermremainattwoyears. Mr.DavidsonrecommendedtheCharterincludearequirementforaStateoftheCitybythe Mayorafterthepassageofthebudget,andforannualwardmeetings. He alsorecommended regularupdatesfromtheCity Manager. MayorWoodwardclosedthepublichearingat6:22p.m. 4. PUBLICCOMMENT a. RelatedtoanyCitybusinessnotontheagenda –2minutesperspeaker RamiroJaime, Jr.re-introducedhimselftotheCityCouncilinhisnewroleastheSHSUStudentCouncilPresidentand announcinginitiativesforhisterm. b. Relatedtoanymatterontheagenda –5minutesperspeaker AlHooten, SHSUVice-PresidentofFinanceandOperation, respectfullyrequestedtheCitynotapproveResolution2013- 11 i(tem6a),notingtheUniversityhadidentifiedthebuildingasimportanttoexpansionofitsprograms,particularlythose dealingwithROTCandveteransaffairsservices. HesaidtheUniversityhadnothadtheopportunitytosubmitabid,and askedtheCitytorebid. LTCDavidYebra,Ret., saidhespokeasaveteranandmemberofthecommunity,alsoextendingtheFireChief condolencesonthenineteenfirefighterslostrecentlyinArizona. HesaidtheReservefacilitieswouldhelpin consolidationoftheUniversity’sveteransservices. HethankedtheCouncilforitsconsiderationandsupport. T.J.Burdettsaidhewasaveteranbutwasspeakingasabusinessman. HereadanemailhehadsenttoCouncilmember HumphreyinoppositiontotheUniversity’srequest. RobertErnstalsothankedthemilitaryandreferredtoaletterhehadprovidedpreviously, inoppositiontotheUniversity’s request. HestatedhebelievedtheUniversityhadtheinformationonthebidprocessinadvanceanddidnottakeaction. TarekMaaloufsaidhehadnotintendedtospeakbut,fromhearingthecomments, feltthathispurchaseofthebuilding wasderailingtheUniversity’sROTCprogram. Hesaidhewaswillingtoprovidepropertytotheirprogram, butthathefelt thatthisprimepropertywasmoreappropriateforbusiness. Mr.MaaloufsaidtheUniversitywasmadeawareofthebid onJune5andhadopportunityandresourcestosubmit,butdidnot. Headdedthathehadbeenwaitingforpropertyto becomeavailable, hadworkedhardonhisbid,andwaspleasedthathiswastheonlyone,againencouragingfairplay. 5. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. AnitemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofa memberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilWorkshopandRegularSessionheldonJune18,2013. [LeeWoodward,  CitySecretary] b. AdoptOrdinance2013-30amendingtheCityofHuntsville,TexasCodeofOrdinances,specificallyChapter32 OFFENSESANDMISCELLANEOUSPROVISIONS”, morespecifically “Sec.32-33Door-to-doorsolicitors, hawkers, nd etc.”; providingforapenalty; makingotherprovisionsandfindingsthereto; anddeclaringaneffective date,2 reading. [ChiefKevinLunsford, DirectorofPublicSafety] c. ApproveResolution2013-10authorizingthesubmissionofthe2013EdwardByrneJusticeAssistanceFormula Grant (JAG)application. [Dr.SherryMcKibben,CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist] d. ApproveOrdinance2013-32toamendthebudgetforFY12-13. [SteveRitter,InterimFinanceDirector] CouncilmemberMontgomery movedtoapprovetheConsentAgendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmembersOlsonand Emmett.Themotionpassedunanimously, 8-0. 6. STATUTORYAGENDA a. Presentation, discussion, andpossibleaction toapproveResolution2013-11,acceptingabidforthesaleofcity ownedpropertylocatedat2257SamHoustonAvenue,morecommonlyknownastheArmyReserveBuilding, andauthorizetheCityManager, CityAttorneyandCitySecretarytosignallnecessarydocumentstocomplete thesalesubjecttofinalapprovalbytheCityAttorney. [MattBenoit,CityManager] TheMayorfiledaConflictofInterestformanddidnotparticipateinthediscussionorvote.) CouncilmemberLollmovedtoadjournintoExecutiveSessionandwassecondedbyCouncilmemberEmmett. Themotion wasapproved6-1,CouncilmemberAllen votingagainst. MayorProTemJohnsonadjournedtheCouncilintoExecutive Sessionas6:45pm. TheCouncilreconvenedat7:08pm. CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoapproveResolution2013-11,acceptingabidforthesaleofcityownedpropertylocated at2257SamHoustonAvenue,morecommonlyknownastheArmyReserveBuilding, andauthorizetheCityManager, CityAttorneyandCitySecretarytosignallnecessarydocumentstocompletethesalesubjecttofinalapprovalbytheCity Attorney andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberLoll. Themotionpassedunanimously, 6-1,CouncilmemberEmmett votingagainst. 7. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCIL/CITYMANAGERANDCITYATTORNEYREPORT a. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction pertainingtoCityordinanceonnoisestandardsandrecentcitizen complaints. [CouncilmemberAllen] CouncilmemberAllensaidhehadaskedtheCityManagertoreviewhisresearchontheitem. CityManagerMattBenoit saidhehaddiscoverednoiseordinancesintheDevelopmentCode (whichincludeddecibelreadings) anda reasonableness” standardintheCity’s CodeofOrdinances. Mr.BenoitsaidhedidnotfeelitappropriatefortheCityto continuewithbothortohaveoneintheDevelopmentCode,sayinghefavoredoneincludingdecibellevelsand suggestedheandthePoliceChiefconductfurtherresearch. Hesaidheintendedtomakerecommendationstothe CouncilthenandwasopentotheCouncil’sinput. TheMayorandCouncilmemberAllensupportedworkingwiththe citizensandbusinessowners, andCouncilmemberLollofferedhisassistance. b. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. AronKulhavy,DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment,presentedonpossiblespeedcalmingdeviceson RiverOaksandAvenueS. MattBenoitspokeoncurrentwaterconservationconcerns, notingapumpdowncombinedwithannualincreased wateruse. Hesaidthepublicwasbeingaskedtopayattentiontotheirwateruseandthoughtfulaboutirrigationand outdoorwashing. KristinEdwards,DeputyCitySecretary, presentedanupdateontherecentlyintroducedThisWeekinHuntsville e- newsletter. TheCouncilandCityManagerlaudedherworkandagreedtoprovidetopics. 8. PUBLICCOMMENT a. RelatedtoanyCitybusiness –2minutesperspeaker DickLindemanspokeinoppositiontoextendingCityCounciltermsfromtwotothreeyears, sayingtheunderlying argumentforcontinuityandstabilitywasveryweak. Hesaidathree-yeartermreducedtheabilityofthecitizenryto impacttheCouncilandthathedidnotbelieveathree-yearCouncilwouldbeanymoreresponsive. 9. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenomediainquiries. 10. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystaffforwhichno actionwillbe discussedortaken.) TheMayorencouragedthepublictosignupforThisWeekinHuntsville andremindedallthefarmersmarketwouldcontinue throughJuly27. MayorWoodwardsaid another CharterpublichearingwouldbeheldonJuly16andproposalswouldbe consideredbytheCouncilatupcomingmeetings. HeannouncedtheCitywasstillacceptingapplicationsforCityBoardsand  Commissions. TheCityManagerandCitySecretarygaveinformationontheCityfourthofJulycelebrationtobeheldatKate BarrRossPark. CouncilmemberEmmettthankedMr.LindemanforhiscommentsandacknowledgedtheBlumenkamps th propertyon13 Street,commendingtheappearanceofthe property, whilealsonotingtherehadbeenalotof general improvementinWard 1. CouncilmemberHumphreyaskedthatthecommunitywelcome visitorsintownforfreshman orientationandencouragedcitizenstotakepartinlocalactivitiesandbegoodneighbors. TheMayor remindedalltheCity wouldbeclosedonthefourthandwishedeveryoneaverysafeholiday. 11. ADJOURNMENTfromRegularMeeting. Workshoptofollow. MayorWoodwardadjournedthemeetingat7:49pm. WORKSHOP CouncilwillreconvenefortheWORKSHOPintheLARGECONFERENCEROOM [TOIMMEDIATELYFOLLOW COUNCILMEETING] TheCityCouncilwilldiscussproposalsforCharteramendmentsfortheNovemberballot. [MayorWoodward] MayorWoodwardconvenedtheworkshopat8:00p.m. TheCouncilreviewedtheCharterReviewCommittee’sreportonitswork. CitizensandCharterReviewCommitteemembersin attendancediscussedhowseveralofthesuggestionshadbeenreachedandtheCouncilevaluatedoptionsandtheballot requirementsforcharteramendments. MayorWoodwardadjournedtheworkshopat9:40p.m. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary