City Council

ST MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE1 DAYOFAPRIL 2014,INTHECITYHALL, LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER,TEXAS,AT5:30PM. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,AndyBrauninger,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,KeithD.Olson,JoeEmmett,Tish Humphrey,RonaldAllen,JoeP.Rodriquez COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: None OFFICERSPRESENT:MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary_____________________________ WORKSHOPSESSION \[5:30PM\] -Discussiononmonumententryandway-findingsignageconsultant. CityManagerMattBenoitpresentedinformationonway-findingsignageandmonumententryconsulting, design,andinstallation. MAINSESSION \[6:00PM\] 1. CALLTOORDER – MayorWoodwardcalledthemeetingtoorderat6:02p.m. 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES – CouncilmemberHumphrey gaveaninvocationandMikiahBooker fromtheYMCA ledthe pledges. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS FairHousingMonthproclamation NationalCrimeVictims’ RightsWeekproclamation PresentationofCitySecretaryvolunteerintern 4. PUBLICCOMMENT JerryDeWittspokeonHighway190easements, statinghewouldsuetheCityforpayment. EricJohnsonspokeinsupportof trafficcalmingdevicesonRiverOaks. JerryDeWittquestionedtheCityfindingmoneyforsuchdevicesbutnottopayhim. CharlesSmither,Jr. askedtheCounciltoconsidermodifications totheproposedWaterConservationandDrought ContingencyPlan. MayorWoodwardaskedMr.SmithertosharehisconcernswithCarolReed, DirectorofPublicWorks. 5. CONSENTAGENDA ApprovalofConsentAgendaauthorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. AnitemmayberemovedfromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofa memberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncil RegularSessionheldonMarch18,2014. \[LeeWoodward,City Secretary\] CouncilmemberBrauninger movedtoapprovetheconsentagendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Montgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously. 6. STATUTORYAGENDA a. FIRSTREADING - Presentation,discussion, andpossibleaction toadoptOrdinance2014-25revisingtheCityof HuntsvilleWaterConservationandDroughtContingencyPlan,firstreading. \[CarolReed,DirectorofPublic Works\] CouncilmemberHumphreyaskedthatconservationbeincludedinlibrarychildren’sprogramsforthesummer. CouncilmemberMontgomerystressedtheneedforpublicnotificationwhenrestrictionswereactivated. b. Presentation, discussion, andpossibleaction toadoptResolution2014-10toamendthebudgetforFY13-14and theCapitalImprovementProjectsbudgetfortheinstallationofspeedtablesonRiverOaksDrive. \[AronKulhavy, DirectorofCommunityandEconomicDevelopment\] CouncilmemberOlson movedtoadoptResolution2014-10toamendthebudgetforFY13-14andtheCapital ImprovementProjectsbudgetfortheinstallationofspeedtablesonRiverOaksDrive and wassecondedby CouncilmemberRodriquez. CouncilmemberRodriquezthankedresidentsforcollectingsignaturesandCitystaffandlocalagenciesfortheirworkon theitem, andexpressedhissupport. CouncilmemberJohnsonaskedforleastaggressivetypeofdevices. CouncilmemberHumphreyexpressedconcernaboutsuchstrategiesinaneighborhood. AronKulhavy, Directorof CommunityandEconomicDevelopment, notedthatperhapsjustover90%ofthearearesidentshadsignedapetitionin support. CouncilmembersBrauningerandRodriquezaskedthecitizensbesupported. CouncilmemberEmmettoffered thatperhapsonlytheRiverOaksresidentshadspoken,notallofthecitizenry. Themotionpassed,7-2,CouncilmembersHumphreyandEmmettvotingagainst. c. Presentation,discussion,andpossibleaction onapresentationbyBoydLondon,ManagingDirectorof FirstSouthwest, oftheCityofHuntsvilledebtschedulesandupcomingdebtretirement. \[CityManagerMatt Benoit\]  Mr.LondonpointedouttheCity’screditratings,inrecognitionofitsstrongfinancialmanagementandplanningpractices, andtherapidlyapproachingretirementofsignificantamountsofdebt,inbothGeneralObligationandWaterworksand SewerSystembonds,resultinginincreasingfinancialflexibility. MayorWoodwardmovedtodirecttheCityManagertoreviewthechangingdebtstructureandbringsuggestionsforfuture planningtotheCouncilandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Olson. Themotionpassedunanimously. 7. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCIL/CITYMANAGERANDCITYATTORNEYREPORT a. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction tonominateJoeBoaztoanopenpositionontheCemetery AdvisoryBoard. \[MayorWoodward\] MayorWoodwardmovedhisnomination. Themotionpassedunanimously. b. Presentation, discussion,andpossibleaction onCodeEnforcementandneighborhoodimprovementpolicies andprocedures. \[CouncilmemberAllen\] CouncilmemberAllen recountedrecentCouncildiscussionsonneighborhoodinitiativesandaskedwhyCity-owned propertiesinthoseareaswerenotincompliance. c. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. Therewasnoreport. 8. PUBLICCOMMENT JerryDeWittagaindiscussedhisdispleasurewiththeeasementacquisitiononHighway190. EricJohnstonspokeonthe RiverOaksspeedcalmingdevicesadexpressedhisappreciation. CouncilmemberAllenofferedalistofovergrownproperties andrequestedalistofCity-ownedlotsandwhethertheywerebeingmaintained. 9. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenomediainquiries. 10. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystafffor whichnoactionwillbediscussedortaken.) MayorWoodwardprovidedinformationonthefollowingitems: DavidDeKerlegand & JeffClarkofCampHopeofHoustonareholdingregularweeklyhoursattheHEARTS Museumtohelpallveterans. JeffisaPTSD-qualifiedcounselorandtheyworkwithlocallawenforcementwhena PTSD-relatedissuearises. SeethemattheHEARTSMuseumorcall800-273-TALK. TheTexasStateAssociationofParliamentarians (TSAP)willbeholdingaparliamentaryproceduresworkshopatthe librarythisSaturday. Thisisagreatopportunityforthosenewtoparliamentaryprocedureorneedingabrushupto helptheirmeetingsrunmoreefficiently.Registeronlineatwww.texasparliamentarians.org. th Getreadyforthe7 AnnualE-wasteDay,from9-noonthisSaturdayattheRecyclingCenter. TheannualAmericanCancerSociety’sRelayforLifewillbeheldMay2atthehighschool,beginningat6pm. WalkerCountyFaireventsbeginwithThursdaynight’sparadeandspecialeventsonSaturday. TheWalkerCountyHistoricalCommission, TexasA&MAgriLifeExtension, theCity’s NaturalPreservationAdHoc Committee, andtheTexasForestService hasbegunthesearchforlocalbigtree champions. Find theBigTree RegistryandfindnominationformsontheCity’swebsite. CouncilmemberRodriquezremindedeveryoneoftheApril9TownHallmeetingat6pmattheElkinsLake Clubhouse. CouncilmemberHumphreysaidshe,theMayor, andCouncilmemberMontgomeryhadattendedthe NAACPBanquetandrecognizedWalkerCountyTaxAssessor-CollectorDianaMcRaeastheCitizenoftheYearfor herworkineducationonelection educationandoutreach. CouncilmemberHumphreyalsonotedAble’sGunClub wouldhosttheProfessionalSportingClaysAssociationInauguralTouronApril5-6. CouncilmemberJohnsonlauded thisweek’sissueofThisWeekinHuntsvilleandencouragedallsigntoup. TheMayorchallengedmorecitizensto signupovernight! 11. EXECUTIVESESSION a. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551,Section 551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheappointment,employment,evaluation,reassignment,duties, discipline,ordismissalofapublicofficeroremployee, ofCityJudgeJohnGaines. \[CouncilmemberAllen\] b. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Chapter551,Section 551.074 - personnelmattersregardingtheappointment,employment,evaluation,reassignment,duties, discipline,ordismissalofapublicofficeroremployee, forCitySecretaryLeeWoodward. \[MayorWoodward\] TheMayoradjournedtheCityCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat8:06p.m. 12. RECONVENE a. Takeaction,ifnecessary,onitemsaddressedduringExecutiveSession. TheCityCouncilreconvenedat10:13 p.m. Councilmember OlsonmovedtoauthorizingtheMayortonegotiatethe  ongoingcontractfortheMunicipalJudgeandwassecondedbyCouncilmembersHumphreyandMontgomery. The motionpassedunanimously. 13. ADJOURNMENT MayorWoodwardadjournedthemeetingat10:14p.m. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary