City Council

TH MINUTESFROMTHEHUNTSVILLECITYCOUNCILMEETINGHELDONTHE16 DAYOFSEPTEMBER 2014,INTHECITY HALL,LOCATEDAT1212AVENUEMINTHECITYOFHUNTSVILLE, COUNTYOFWALKER, TEXAS,AT6:00P.M. TheCouncilmetinaregularsessionwiththefollowing: COUNCILMEMBERSPRESENT: MacWoodward,AndyBrauninger,LydiaMontgomery,DonH.Johnson,KeithD.Olson,JoeEmmett,Tish Humphrey,RonaldAllen,JoeP.Rodriquez COUNCILMEMBERSABSENT: None OFFICERSPRESENT:MattBenoit,CityManager,LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney,LeeWoodward,CitySecretary_____________________________ MAINSESSION \[6:00P.M.\] 1. CALLTOORDER – MayorWoodwardcalledthemeetingtoorderat6:00p.m. 2. INVOCATIONANDPLEDGES – CouncilmemberLydiaMontgomerygaveaninvocationandSandraClifton oftheYMCAled thepledges. 3. PRESENTATIONSANDPROCLAMATIONS TylerLiveseyoftheSHSUSGAinvitedtheCouncilandpublictoameetingonhigh-speedrail withRebeccaCowleofthe TexasCentralRailwayinroom320attheLowmanStudentCenteronSeptember30 at6:30p.m. MatthewBlevinsofthe YMCAintroducedhimselftotheCouncilandwasthankedforhisservice. DarrenDrewitz, ofMindEcology presented a tourismassessmentforadvertisingandpromotionrecommendations. 4. PUBLICHEARING MayorWoodwardopenedthehearingat6:39 p.m. KarlDavidson offeredsuggestionsforalternativebudgetingandspending methodsfortheCity. JerryDeWittrequestedtheCityreinstatethejobseliminatedinthelastyearandnotspendthemoney budgetedforconsultants. MayorWoodwardclosedthehearingat6:47p.m. 5. CONSENTAGENDA PublicCommentswillbecalledforbythepresidingofficerbeforeactionistakenontheseitems. (ApprovalofConsentAgenda authorizestheCityManagertoimplementeachiteminaccordancewithstaffrecommendations. Anitemmayberemoved fromtheConsentAgendaandaddedtotheStatutoryAgendaforfulldiscussionbyrequestofamemberofCouncil.) a. ApprovetheminutesoftheCityCouncilRegular SessionheldonSeptember2, 2014. \[LeeWoodward, City Secretary\] CouncilmemberBrauninger movedtoapprovetheconsentagendaandwassecondedbyCouncilmember Montgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. 6. STATUTORYAGENDA aa. Presentation, discussion,publiccomment,andpossibleactiononCityCouncil TravelandTrainingbudgetand expenditures. \[CouncilmemberOlson\] CouncilmemberOlsonaddressedwhathedescribedasinaccuracieswhichhadariseninpublicdiscussionoftheCity Counciltravelandtrainingbudgetandexpenditures, comparingpriorbudgetsandreviewingbenefitsachievedinthe communityduetotheseexpenditures. CouncilmemberRodriquezsaidhefeltthediscussionwasimproperasitwas bringingtheelectionintothemeeting, andhisfeelingthatitshouldbehandledinthesamemediumwhereitwasfirst raised. Councilmember Humphreymovedto amendthebudgetto increasethe2014-2015CityCouncilTravelandTrainingto 7,100andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberMontgomery. CouncilmemberHumphreydiscussedhowsheperceivedthe valueofeducationandtraining. TheMayoremphasizedthateachCouncilmembermakeshis/herowndecisionsabout travelandtrainingexpenditures.CouncilmemberAllensaidhewastheCouncilmemberwhohadrequestedacopyofthe relatedpublicinformationrequest butthathedidnotfeelitwasappropriateforCouncilmeetingdiscussion. Themotion passed, 6-3,CouncilmembersRodriquez,Brauninger,andAllenvotingagainst. a. Presentation,discussion, publiccomment,andpossibleaction onOrdinance2014-42,adoptingtheFiscalYear 2014-2015AnnualBudget (recordvote). \[ SteveRitter,DirectorofFinance\] CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoapproveOrdinance2014-42,adoptingtheFiscalYear2014-2015AnnualBudget, includinganincreasetothesalestaxrevenueestimate of $2,100fortheincreaseintheCityCounciltravelandtraining budget (101-112-55080) andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberMontgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. b. Presentation,discussion, publiccomment,andpossibleaction onOrdinance2014-43,adoptingtheFiscalYear 2014-2015taxrates (passageofbudgetrequiredtovoteonthisitem) r(ecord vote). \[SteveRitter,Directorof Finance\] CouncilmemberMontgomery movedtoapproveOrdinance2014-43,adoptingtheFiscalYear2014-2015taxratesand wassecondedbyCouncilmember Humphrey. CouncilmemberRodriquezlaudedCityManagerMattBenoitforhis conservatism, positiveactionstocutthebudget,andassistanceinrollingbackthetaxrate,andexpressedhis CouncilmemberRodriquez’s\]hopeforfurtherreductionsinthefuture. CouncilmemberMontgomeryagreed,offeringher  appreciation ofMr.Benoitandthestaff’sefforts, andalsonotingInterimCityManagerChuckPinto’scontributionsin 2012. CouncilmemberHumphreyremindedalloftheneedofmunicipalinvestmenttobenefitthecommunityforthe future. CouncilmemberJohnsonnotedthecomparisonoflocaltaxestosimilarcitiesandalsohowmuchmorerevenue wasreceivedfromsalestaxoverpropertytax. CouncilmemberOlsonandMayorWoodwardthankedtheCouncil, City Managerandstafffortheirhardwork. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. c. Presentation,discussion,publiccomment,andpossibleaction toconsiderauthorizingtheCityManagertoenter intoanagreementwithBinkley th &BarfieldConsultingEngineersforprofessionaldesignengineeringservicesfor the7 StreetRehabilitationProject, #13-12-04. \[Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra, CityEngineer\] CouncilmemberHumphrey movedtoauthorizetheCityManagertoenterintoanagreementwithBinkley &Barfield ConsultingEngineersforthe7th StreetRehabilitationProject, #13-12-04, andwassecondedbyCouncilmemberOlson. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. d. Presentation,discussion,publiccomment,andpossibleaction toconsiderauthorizingtheCityManagertoenter intoanagreementwithKlotzAssociatesforprofessionalengineeringservicesfortheTownCreekSanitary SewerReplacementProject, #12-11-04,PhaseIdesign. \[Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra,CityEngineer\] CouncilmemberOlsonmovedtoauthorizetheCityManagertoenterintoanagreementwithKlotzAssociatesfor professionalengineeringservicesfortheTownCreekSanitarySewerReplacementProject, #12-11-04, andwas secondedbyCouncilmemberJohnson. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. e. Presentation,discussion, publiccomment,andpossibleaction toconsidertheawardofbidfortheconstruction ofUniversityAvenueSidewalkandSamHoustonAvenueSidewalkProjectsandauthorizetheCityManager to enterintoaconstructioncontractforthesame -ProjectNos.13-12-03.1 &13-12-03.2. \[ Y.S. “Ram” Ramachandra, CityEngineer\] Councilmember Humphrey movedtoauthorizetheCityManagertoawardtheconstructioncontracttoDudley Construction, Ltd. intheamountof $95,095fortheconstructionofUniversityAvenueSidewalkandSamHoustonAvenue SidewalkProjectsandauthorizetheCityManagertoenterintoaconstructioncontractfortheProjectNos.13-12-03.1 & 13-12-03.2andwassecondedbyCouncilmember Montgomery. Themotionpassedunanimously, 9-0. 7. MAYOR/CITYCOUNCIL/CITYMANAGERANDCITYATTORNEYREPORT a. Presentation,publiccomment,discussion, andpossibleaction toapprovethenominationofJohnnyHollandto theCityofHuntsville,TexasVeteransAffairsAdvisoryBoard. \[MayorWoodward\] MayorWoodwardnominatedJohnnyHollandtoanopenpositionontheCityofHuntsville, Texas, VeteransAffairs AdvisoryBoard.Themotionpassedunanimously,9-0. b. CityManager’sReport 1. UpdatesonCityconstruction, grants,studies,Cityprojects,Citypurchases, andeconomicdevelopment. ProjectManagerMikeGoebelandCityEngineerRamRamachandra discussedtheongoingSafeRoutestoSchool project,notingtherehadbeendefaultandthatameetingwithCNA (thebondingcompany) hadbeenheldtodiscuss rebid. Mr.Goebelsaidotherconstructioncompanieshadbeencontacted,bidswouldbeacceptedshortly, andthat hehopedadecisionwouldbemadebytheendofthemonth. 8. REQUESTSFORCITIZENPARTICIPATION NorequestswerereceivedbynoononTuesday, September9,2014. 9. MEDIAINQUIRIESRELATEDTOMATTERSONTHEAGENDA Therewerenomediainquiries. 10. ITEMSOFCOMMUNITYINTEREST HearannouncementsconcerningitemsofcommunityinterestfromtheMayor,Councilmembers, andCitystaffforwhichno actionwillbediscussedortaken.) MayorWoodwardmadethefollowingannouncements: Thepubliclibrary’s14thStreetdrive-throughbookdropisopenandreadyforuse. TheCitywillagainbehonoringPOW/MIARemembranceDaywithaflag-raisingceremonyonFriday,September19,at6:45 a.m.attheCityHallflagpole. (FlagswillbeloweredatsundownonSunday, September21.) SHSUwillholdaceremonyat 8a.m.thatmorning, attheflagpoleinfrontofJohnsonColiseum. TheHeartWalkwillbeheldonSaturday, September27from9-11a.m.attheSHSUstadium. ContactKarenBilsingat291- 3411formoreinformation. ThefirstmeetinginOctoberissetforOctober7at5p.m.,sothatwecanpotentiallyfinishearlyandallowCouncilmembersto attendNationalNightOutevents. Thescheduleofeventshasbeenupdated, theywillbeheldfrom4-7p.m.attheTarget center,butparadesorpartieswithneighborhoodassociationswillbeginat5or5:30 (contactyourneighborhoodassociation liaisonforfinaltimes). Ifyoudon’thaveaneighborhoodgroup,youcancontactOfficerMarkJenkinsat936-291-5480. TheStateoftheCityaddresswillbeonOctober21,withalocationandtimetobedetermined.  ThefirstTuesdayofNovemberiselectionnight,thisyearNovember4. WehavecancelledtheNov.4CityCouncilmeeting, althoughCityHallwillbeopenforelectionreturns. WewillholdaCityCouncilmeetingonthesecondregularmeetingdate inNovember, whichwillbeNovember18. HuntsvilleCommunityTheatrewillbeperforming "Dr.Jekyll &Mr.Hyde."PerformancedatesareSept19,20,26,and27 (all at7:30pm) andSept21and28 (bothat2:00pm).PerformancelocationisOldTownTheatre,102312thStreet,Huntsville, TX.Formoreinformationortoreservetickets,visitwww.HuntsvilleCommunityTheatre.orgorcall (936)291-7933. OnSaturday, September20,theWalkerEducationCenterwillholdabooksigningforTexasHighwaysphotographerGriff Smith,from3-5p.m. CouncilmemberOlsonannouncedthatAcademydonated $1500toyouthsoccerinHuntsvilleandgave $100shoppingsprees tothirtykidsfromtheBoys &GirlsClubofWalkerCounty. CouncilmemberHumphreyremindedeveryoneofablooddrive sponsoredbyMitchamIndustries, codeQ297atanyGulfCoastRegionalBloodCenter,onbehalfoftheirCEOBillMitcham. 11. EXECUTIVESESSION a. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCodeChapter551,Section 551.074 - personnel mattersregardingtheevaluationandjobdutiesofCityManagerMattBenoit. \[Mayor Woodward\] b. CityCouncilwillconveneinclosedsessionasauthorizedbyTexasGovernmentCode,Section551.071– to receivelegaladviceandSection551.072 – deliberationregardingpurchase,exchange,leaseorvalueofreal propertyonpropertyacquisitionforeasementsrelatingtoOldColonyRoadsanitarysewerproject,phasesVand VI. \[LeonardSchneider,CityAttorney; MattBenoit,CityManager\] MayorWoodwardadjournedtheCouncilintoExecutiveSessionat8:15p.m. 12. RECONVENE a. Takeaction,ifnecessary,onitemsaddressedduringExecutiveSession. MayorWoodwardreconvenedthemeetingat8:18 p.m.Noactionwastaken. 13. ADJOURNMENT MayorWoodwardadjournedthemeetingat8:18p.m. Respectfullysubmitted, LeeWoodward,CitySecretary