Willis, Texas January 17, 2017 5:30 p.m. The City Council of the City of Willis, Texas Convened in regular session at the city hall on the date and time aforesaid, with the following members present: Leonard Reed, Mayor Thomas Belinoski, Mayor Pro-Tem John Lovelady, Council Member Thomas Luster, Council Member Tamara Young-Hector, Council Member Hector Forestier, City Manager Larry Foerster, City Attorney Marissa Quintanilla, City Secretary James Nowak, Police Chief Pat Riley, Public Works Director John Mangiameli, Director of Community Development Rick Valdez, Director of Finance And the following members absent: Bill Van Alstyne, constituting a quorum at which time the following business was transacted to-wit: 1. Call to order the regular meeting. The mayor called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call, Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee Texas; one state under God, one and indivisible. Mayor called roll. Bill Van Alstyne was absent. Pledges were recited. John Lovelady said the invocation. 3. CITIZENS INQUIRY Pat Riley introduced new public works employee Tray Penrod to the council. 4. CONSENT AGENDA a. Consider the minutes of the previous meeting; December 13, 2016 b. Approval of accounts payable. c. Approval of financial statements and tax collection report. d. Approval of Willis Police Department Policy 8.6 Active Shooter Event Response. Mayor called for questions or comments on the consent agenda. None were received. Mayor and council approved items 4a 4d by unanimous consent. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Consider and approve appointments to the Willis Community Development Corporation to fill vacancies. Mr. Forestier stated there were two vacancies on the CDC Board. Motion was made by Tamara Young-Hector to appoint Yolanda Harris and Lorrinda Bishop to the Willis Community Development Corporation. Thomas Belinoski seconded the motion. Mayor called for questions. None were received. Motion passed unanimously.
b. Consider and take action on putting up for bid Lot 9, Block 3, Bates Addition of the City of Willis. Mr. Forestier stated that council took action on this last council meeting. What was approved was the south lot, but should have been the north lot. Motion was made by Thomas Belinoski to accept bids on Lot 9, Block 3, Bates Addition of the City of Willis with a minimum bid of $3,300. Tamara Young-Hector seconded the motion. John Lovelady asked if the south lot could also be sold. Mr. Forestier stated that the city want to see how the drainage issue progress before making that decision. Mayor called for any questions none were received. Motion passed unanimously. c. Consider and act on a resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program Application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Community Development Fund. Nic Houston of Public Management stated that this is a $350,000 grant with a required match by the city of $52,500. Mr. Houston stated this was for water improvements at Water Plant 1 to install a new ground water storage tank. Mr. Houston stated the break down was approximately $323,000 for construction, $29,000 for administration, and approximately $48,000 for engineering. Mr. Houston stated that the resolution was for the council to approve the submission of the application which is due in February. Motion was made by Thomas Belinoski to approve a resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program Application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Community Development Fund. John Lovelady seconded the motion. Mayor called for questions. None were received. Motion passed unanimously. d. Consider and take action on a resolution ordering the City of Willis General Election to be held on May 6, 2017. Mr. Forestier stated the election will be held on May 6, 2017. Motion was made by Tamara Young-Hector to approve a resolution ordering the City of Willis General Election for May 6, 2017. John Lovelady seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. e. Consider approval of an election services agreement with Montgomery County, Texas for the May 6, 2017 election. Motion was made by Tamara Young-Hector to approve the election services agreement with Montgomery County, Texas for the May 6, 2017 election. Thomas Luster seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. f. Consider approval of the joint election agreement with Montgomery County, Texas for the May 6, 2017 election. Motion was made by Thomas Belinoski to approve the joint election agreement with Montgomery County, Texas for the May 6, 2017 election. John Lovelady seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. g. Discuss, review and take action on incorporating the NIMS Training Program into the Personnel Policy Manual, and other policy related issues. James Nowak stated that the previous NIMS training expired in 2011. In 2011 they updated to the National Institute Management System training program and changed the way things were done. They looked at what normal job duties are and what they would be in an emergency situation, and what courses that person should have. Mr. Nowak stated that they took all the job descriptions for the City, including the elected officials and compared them to the courses that were recommended and created a NIMS Training Program to incorporate into the Personnel Policy Manual. Mr. Forestier asked if some of these courses would pertain to the council. Mr.
Nowak stated they would. Motion was made by Tamara Young-Hector to include the NIMS Training Program into the Personnel Policy Manual. John Lovelady seconded the motion. Mayor asked about the other policy related issues. Mr. Forestier stated that the council had been given a copy of the personnel policy manual for them to review and there are some items that will be brought before council in February or March. Mr. Forestier stated that staff is reviewing the incentive pay, take home vehicle policy, and travel expense form which is automated for use by staff and council. Rick Valdez stated that this form would be sent out to staff and council for them to use for any travel expense. Staff and council would need to fill out form for reimbursement or advance in funds for meals, mileage, lodging etc. Mayor called for questions. None were received. Motion passed unanimously. h. Discuss, and review the City of Willis Home Rule Charter. Mayor stated that the Home Rule Charter is a good resource for the council, lets council know what their duties and responsibilities are and what the City Manager s responsibilities are. Mayor asked the council to take the time to read the Personnel Policy and the Home Rule Charter and to adhere to the chain of command going forward. Mayor called for questions. None were received. 6. REPORTS Input from Council related to issues for possible inclusion on future agendas; related to issues such as (but not limited to) municipal projects, personnel, public property, development, and other city/public business. Thomas Belinoski stated that the clothing donation boxes that are put out, are starting to attract more dumping than donation items. Mr. Belinoski would like for staff to look into it and see what can be done. a. Engineer s report i. West Side Connector TXDOT Update Mike Mathena stated that the West Side Connector Road had been opened. TXDOT will be restriping FM 1097 over IH 45 and Feeder Road going south. Once the restriping is done the city will have TXDOT back out to do a traffic count. ii. Water and sewer rate study Mr. Mathena stated that the city has an 800,000 gallons per day waste water treatment plant. The city also has and existing contract with the City of Conroe to send 200,000 gallons a day of raw sewage to the Conroe plant. Mr. Mathena stated that if we were to go over that amount the contract would have to be renegotiated. Mr. Mathena stated that the waste water treatment plant is old and needs some rehabilitation work. Mr. Mathena stated that if the city shut down the plant and sent everything to Conroe would be looking at $7.90 per thousand, Mr. Mathena stated this was three times what we pay Conroe now for the 200,000 gallons we send them now. Mr. Mathena stated that they looked into what it would take to continue to treat the sewage and determined that there needs to be approximately $4.9 million dollars in upgrades to the plant. Mr. Mathena stated they also looked into adding a 250,000 gallon per day expansion on the plant, which would be approximately $7.9 million in construction work. Mr. Mathena stated that with maintenance cost included, and included the 200,000 gallons per day going to Conroe, the cost per thousand would be $4.65. Mr. Mathena stated as the flow increases should see a decline. Mr. Mathena stated that they are still early in the process. iii. Paving Projects Mr. Mathena stated that the final asphalt on Paddock and Rogers is down, they still need to do stripping and some clean up. Mr. Mathena stated that on Young Street half the hand rail is in. b. City Manager s report and updates
i. FEMA Reimbursement James Nowak gave the council an update on the FEMA Update. Mr. Nowak stated that there were three categories that claims were submitted for; Emergency Protective Measures, Public Buildings and Equipment and Debris. Mr. Nowak stated that for Emergency Protective Measures, and Public Building and Equipment FEMA approved $24,251 and they will pay 75% which will be $18,000, on the Debris FEMA approved $40,000 and they will pay 85% which will be $34,000. Mr. Nowak stated that the total cost between the two storms in April and May was $64,374 and FEMA will pay $52,293, the unrecovered cost is $12,000. ii. Mobilitie Agreement Mr. Forestier stated that Mobilitie is a company who want to put up antennas in the City. Mr. Forestier stated he d like Thomas Luster to be part of a group consisting of staff members to use his expertise regarding the issue. Mr. Forestier stated that the city also received an inquiry from a different company requesting the same. Mr. Forestier stated that staff is working on an ordinance for this. Larry Foerster stated he talked with the representative from Mobilitie and he indicated that they are working on a franchise agreement with another city and would provide a copy of agreement when it was done. Mr. Foerster stated that they are willing to pay $500 a year with a consumer cost increase as time goes on. Mr. Foerster stated that there is still more research to be done. iii. Financial Travel Form Update This item was discussed with item g. iv. Willis Shuttle Service Mr. Forestier stated that the shuttle service had been canceled due to lack of participation. Mr. Forestier stated that if citizens needed a shuttle they could go through the Meals on Wheels program for the elderly and disabled and it is through appointment only. 7. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. Convene into closed executive session in accordance to the Texas Open Meetings Act, Section 551.087 (Economic Development), and Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney). i. Caldwell Development ii. Camillo Properties iii. Red Light Camera Update Mayor and council went into executive session at 6:42 p.m. b. Take action deemed necessary from executive session. Mayor and council reconvened in open session at 7:22 p.m. and took no action. 8. ADJOURN Motion was made by Tamara Young-Hector to adjourn. Thomas Luster seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Marissa Quintanilla, City Secretary Leonard Reed, Mayor