The Huntsville City Council begins a series of important summer meetings and workshops tonight, focusing on two vital components for the successful operation of the City of Huntsville — the budget and a new city manager.

The nine-member council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. at City Hall where Gene Pipes, interim city manager, and staff will present the first draft of the FY 2008-09 budget.

“I will make the initial budget presentation (tonight) and the significance of that is according to the city charter, the city manager must submit a proposed budget to start the process,” he said. “It’s my job to put it out there ... the council can use the loose-leaf books to add, take away or change elements of the budget.

“Council will review the document over the next several weeks. It’s based on flexibility, because we want to get a good sense of what council wants.”

Pipes and other city staff members attended a workshop last week to hear input and concerns regarding the new budget.

Topics discussed included debt reduction, a recycling program, sidewalk plans, hotel/motel tax and economic development.

“There were some interesting discussions,” he said. “Councilmembers were philosophical and very visionary. At the same time, a budget is focused on what is happening now.

“We got some insight into the process. Of course, some ideas were for longer range planning. Debt service — that is something that can be changed ... ”

According to Pipes, challenging decisions face the council.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. “This is the greatest responsibility the council has — adopting a budget is the most important thing they do.”

Another major move is the selection of a new city manager.

“I hope to lay out a process of work to get the council through a successful adoption of the budget ... and dovetail the city manager process so that the two major features are not conflicting with each other,” Pipes said.

According to the council’s tentative summer schedule, the council will conduct interviews with city manager candidates the week of July 29.

Budget adoption is projected for Sept. 2.

The regular session will also include a presentation, discussion and possible action on a letter of request from Joiner Partnership Inc. of Kingwood, regarding architectural services for the northeast fire station.

Prior to the meeting, councilmembers will get an up close look at the Huntsville Fire Department’s new fire truck at City Hall at 4:45 p.m.

A work session will follow at 5:15 p.m. with discussion on the Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter.

During tonight’s regular session, the council will also discuss and/or possibly take action on:

• Minutes of City Council meetings held on May 20, June 3, 17 and 24, 2008,

• Annual maintenance agreement in the amount of $25,000 for Bently software licensing and support,

• Bid for various concrete products through an annual contract with Service Ready Mix and Transit Mix Concrete,

• Bid for CRS2 product through an annual contract with Cleveland Asphalt at the amount of $1.9543 per gallon,

• Bid for flexible base products through an annual contract with Pavers Supply for the purchase of all stabilized flexible base products and flexible base picked up by the City only and to allow the continuance of the contract for Service Ready Mix for delivered flexible base,

• Ordinance 2008-27, to consider budget amendments to the FY 2007-08 budget,

• Appoint members to the City Council committees: finance, personnel, technology and communications and service,

• Program updates on septic tank waste pilot program, Robinson Creek/Texas Commission on Environmental Quality agreed order, and Ravenwood development,

• Letter of request from United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth (U.M. Army) for a waiver of certain permits.