City Council

MINUTES FROM THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015, IN THE CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M, IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS, AT 6:00 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following: COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mac Woodward, Andy Brauninger, Lydia Montgomery, Don H. Johnson, Keith D. Olson, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Ronald Allen, Joe P. Rodriquez COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None OFFICERS PRESENT: Matt Benoit, City Manager, Leonard Schneider, City Attorney, Lee Woodward, City Secretary_____________________________ MAIN SESSION [6:00 P.M.] 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Woodward called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES – Councilmember Andy Brauninger gave an invocation and Coleman Dougherty of the YMCA led the pledges. 3. CONSENT AGENDA Public Comments will be called for by the presiding officer before action is taken on these items. (Approval of Consent Agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item in accordance with staff recommendations. An item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory Agenda for full discussion by request of a member of Council.) a. Approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on February 3, 2015. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] b. Consider accepting funding from the Office of the Attorney General for $12,685.00, and designate the City Manager as the Authorized Representative. [Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources] c. Consider the purchase of twenty-three radio packages for the Huntsville Police Department. [Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources] d. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2016 Victims’ Service Coordinator Grant for $58,472.40, plus $14,618.10 as a cash match, and adopt Resolution 2015-05 in support of same. [Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources] e. Consider authorizing the City Manager to apply for a 2015 Texas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $344,250.00, plus $60,750 in matching funds, and adopt Resolution 2015-06 in support of same. [Dr. Sherry McKibben, Director of Neighborhood Resources] f. Consider the award of bid for Old Colony Road (OCR) V & VI Sewer Extension Project construction (Projects #08- 10-31 & 08-10-32), second reading. [Y. S. Ram Ramachandra, City Engineer] g. Consider adoption of Ordinance 2015-14 to amend the budget for FY 14-15 and amend the Capital Improvement Projects budget. [Steve Ritter, Finance Director] Councilmember Olson moved to approve the consent agenda and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. Councilmember Brauninger asked to pull item c. The motion for items a and b was adopted unanimously, 9-0. Councilmember Montgomery moved to authorize the City Manager to apply to the National Endowment for the Arts’ invitation to apply for grant funding of $10,000.00, with a $10,000.00 match and was seconded by Councilmember Humphrey. The motion was adopted, 8-1. 4. STATUTORY AGENDA a. FIRST READING - Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2015-15, allowing the City Manager to approve amendments to the City’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Policy Manual after notice is given to the City Council, first reading. [Matt Benoit, City Manager, and Julie O’Connell, Human Resources Director] (First reading, no action taken.) b. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action to authorize the City Manager to sign an agreement with PGAL Architects to conduct space needs assessments and cost estimating for four City facilities, for an amount not to exceed $70,000.00. [Matt Benoit, City Manager] Councilmember Humphrey moved to authorize the City Manager to sign an agreement with PGAL Architects to conduct space needs assessments and cost estimating for four City facilities, for an amount not to exceed $70,000.00 and was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The motion was adopted unanimously, 9-0. 5. MAYOR/CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REPORT a. Presentation, public comment, discussion, and possible action on nominations of Joe Soliz and Pat Graham to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. [Mayor Woodward] Mayor Woodward moved his nominations. The motion was unanimously adopted, 9-0. b. City Manager’s Report 1. Updates on City construction, grants, studies, City projects, City purchases, and economic development. Public Works Director Carol Reed updated the Council on the progress at the TRA plant. 6. REQUESTS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION  An opportunity for citizens to be heard on any topic and for the City Council to participate in the discussion. No action will be taken. Hear from John Strickland on economic development. 7. MEDIA INQUIRIES RELATED TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA There were no media inquiries. 8. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (Hear announcements concerning items of community interest from the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff for which no action will be discussed or taken.) Mayor Woodward presented the following items: - The City’s Parks & Leisure Dept. will again be hosting the Kids ‘Cue at this year’s “Shotgun” Fred Pirkle BBQ event coming up on Feb. 26-28. Contact Penny Joiner at 294-5708 for more info. - The Mary Laura Gibbs quilt exhibit is on display at the Wynne Home Arts Center through April 15. - Authors with the National Book Awards will be coming to SHSU this March. Contact Amanda Nowlin-O’Banion at 294-4109 for more information on public and school events. - The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Division, in cooperation with a number of local businesses and service groups, is hosting the annual Trash Bash on Saturday, March 7. See the flyer on the City web site or contact Esther Herklotz at 294-5724 for more information. - The Veterans Task Force of Montgomery, Walker, and Liberty Counties will be holding a Veteran’s Expo on March 17 from 9-2 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe. Veterans can receive legal and employment aid and connect with area employers. - HPD is accepting applications for the 2015 Citizen’s Police Academy through March 23. Contact Officers Jenkins or Posey at 291-5480 for information and applications. - The Senior Center is hosting a Medicare Fraud Awareness luncheon on March 25 at 11 a.m. Call 295-6151 for more information. - The Huntsville Public Library & the SHSU Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP) Center will present a free five-week Citizenship Preparation Course on Thursdays in April from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., in the Huntsville Public Library Community Room. Please contact Mary Kokot, at 936-291-5912 to sign up. - Please take a look at the new JustServe.org web page for Huntsville, a service that links volunteers with projects sponsored by humanitarian and governmental agencies, churches, and civic groups. Call 295-6920 for more information. Councilmember Humphrey Councilmember Olson 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 - personnel matters to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, and duties, concerning City Attorney Leonard Schneider. [Councilmember Allen] b. City Council will meet in Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 – personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, concerning City Secretary Lee Woodward. [Mayor Woodward] The Mayor adjourned the Council into Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. 10. RECONVENE a. Take action, if necessary, on items handled in Executive Session. The Council reconvened at 7:15 p.m. No action was taken. 11. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Woodward adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m. Lee Woodward, City Secretary