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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2010-05-13 Regular 05/13/2010 3334 STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( MAY 13, 2010 )( MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, MAY 13, 2010, AT 6:30 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: MAYOR DAVID SMITH MAYOR PRO-TEM ANDY RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER MICHAEL BARKER COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL COUNCILMEMBER LESLIE REID COUNCILMEMBER BILL HOLBERT COUNCILMEMBER JIM BARR CITY ATTORNEY BOBBY GERVAIS CITY MANAGER ROGER ROECKER CITY SECRETARY MELINDA WELSH Mayor Smith called the meeting to order. REGULAR SESSION The invocation was given by Public Works Director Kaz Hamidian. Mayor Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and to the State of Texas. COMMENTS FROM CANDIDATES AND OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Reid stated she started running for Council as soon as former Councilmember Laura Ewing asked her to be her campaign treasurer, did not want to be involved, just wanted to write checks, went to a meeting where people were asking her to be involved and decided to run for Council, what a blessing it has been and it has been a humbling experience to have people that supported her who she had never met with and support from friends that stepped up for her. Sitting up at the dais has been an experience, attended Council meetings for a year before becoming Councilmember but was not prepared for the experience, things have to be done for the entire City, first year on Council was not the best but the second year Council got a lot accomplished. When Hurricane Ike hit it was a true test for everyone on Council and did what was necessary, worked hard while Council slept in the Public Safety Building (PSB), served meals and more. All Staff, EMS, Public safety and Fire Department worked together and was wonderful to see. The City was back on its feet so fast because of that effort. People have told her they bet she is glad to be off Council and she responds that she is really going to miss it. If she had not had to go back to work she would have liked to have run again. Thanked great Staff and Council for the experience. Councilmember Rivera stated he agreed with what Councilmember Reid had to say, hoped he served in a fashion that would do all citizens proud, thanked people that supported him and the ones that did not since now he has his life back, proud it turned out the way it did, thanked Staff who is second to none, thanked Council for working together mostly and stated that those that come after him please serve with honesty and integrity, has met that challenge himself and thanked citizens for the honor of helping them. Mayor Smith presented a plaque to outgoing Councilmember Reid and stated he will have many remembrances of her time on Council but this is a remembrance for her to remember Council and think of 05/13/2010 3335 them, Mayor read the plaque which stated, "In recognition of dedicated service and significant achievements as a member of the Friendswood City Council in appreciation of the sharing of her time, energy, and talents on behalf of the citizens of Friendswood". Mayor Smith presented a plaque to outgoing Councilmember Rivera and thanked him for his dedicated service, significant achievements and all his hard work, and thanks from Council. Councilmember Barr thanked Councilmembers Reid and Rivera and stated he learned a lot from them, through the good and bad times, and thanked them for their service. Councilmember Hill stated it has been a pleasure knowing them, no one knows what it is to sit up on the dais and serve, respects what both have done for the City and it has been an honor to serve with them. Councilmember Barker stated they were always prepared and it was an honor working with them, have had successes and others, and their service to the City is appreciated. Councilmember Holbert stated he wants to say thanks for the time they have served, appreciates them and will miss them. Mayor Smith stated regarding Councilmember Reid, there are many accomplishments that Council has done while she has been on it, particularly her extra work such as connecting with Homeowners Association (HOA), Friendswood Youth Council, has been a great perspective from her and her keen intellect and ability to analyze and bring a logical perspective to Council, will miss her and thanked for her hard work and her family for their sacrifice. Councilmember Hill stated 2 years ago Councilmember Reid initiated the first Memorial Day celebration in Friendswood. Last year was great and this year will be even better thanks to her. Mayor Smith stated Councilmember Rivera's seniorship has been a benefit to Council, his work in human relations and military has helped Council a lot, has wisdom in this time of his life and helped Council through many challenges, one of the benefits is making great friends and will miss him, thanked his wife Rose and family for their sacrifice, has been a hard couple of years. City Manager Roger Roecker thanked Councilmembers Reid and Rivera from he and Staff and stated what a great job they had done. City Secretary Melinda Welsh thanked Councilmembers Reid and Rivera for their hard work, dedication and for being so wonderful to work with. Position 4 Candidate Kevin Holland stated Councilmembers Reid and Rivera will be missed, it is a sacrifice, a volunteer service to the community, congratulations to Patrick McGinnis who won Council Position 4, thanked citizens who supported him with phone calls and learned a lot, got knocked down but will get back up, looks forward to continuing to serve the City of Friendswood. Robin Enochs stated she thanks the outgoing Councilmembers for serving and sacrificing their time, further stated Position 4 Candidate Billy Enochs regrets not being here, he is out of town, thanks for supporters, started out late in the game, knows Dr. Pat McGinnis well, was a clean campaign and thanked Kevin Holland. Dr. Pat McGinnis will do well and is not a loss. Mr. Enochs plans to participate, learned a lot and got to talk to citizens more than their neighbors and friends, thanked everyone. Position 6 Candidate Deirdre Carey Brown stated Pat McGinnis sent her an e-mail to read that stated, "I send my greetings to you tonight from Phoenix, Arizona where I am attending my annual medical professional society meeting. I regret not joining you in person but this meeting has been on my schedule 05/13/2010 3336 for several months. Today in particular was important as I completed my term as the President of the Space Medicine Association. Again, I regret that I am missing what should be my first Council meeting, and welcoming reception. However, these changes were made only last week by Council. Even so, it was not clearly stated why the change was necessary. And it was quickly passed under a "Consent Agenda". Now it is clear the agenda tonight is concerning the runoff election. Certainly, the possibility of a runoff election was known for several weeks. Perhaps the rescheduling of this meeting should have merited earlier and more open discussion. Earlier this week, I spoke by phone to the Mayor and the City Manager. I expressed to them my disappointment that I would miss tonight's meeting. I did suggest to the Mayor that the Council might consider moving this meeting back to its regularly scheduled date of May 17. I also expressed my opinion on the best dates for the runoff election. Finally, we also had a lengthy conversation about my role as a new Councilman The good news is that City Secretary Melinda Welsh will administer my oath of office late tomorrow afternoon when I return home. I look forward to that and subsequently joining the Council to work for the betterment of our city. My thanks to Ms. Brown for speaking on my behalf tonight. Enjoy your meeting and good night." Ms. Brown stated she would like to thank Councilmembers Reid and Rivera and further stated further stated she met Councilmember Reid 3 years ago and she has done a lot of great things, appreciates her service, met Councilmember Rivera through Councilmember Reid, was a clean campaign between them, is honored to be here tonight, has heartfelt sympathy for the voters, has been active and a voice for others, thanked everyone who came out and voted in the election, thanks for all the people that helped, extends heartfelt thanks to husband John and his unending support. Tomorrow is their wedding anniversary, consider all issues tonight related to the runoff date, thankful for candidates Billy Enochs and newly elected Councilmember Pat McGinnis' endorsement and some of Councilmembers Rivera's supporter's endorsement and stated she also believed that Councilmember Reid was silently endorsing her since she was wearing brown. RESOLUTIONS **Councilmember Rivera moved to approve Resolution R2010-20— a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the General Election held on May 8, 2010, for the purpose of electing two Councilmembers to the City Council of the City; and containing other provisions relating to the subject. Seconded by Councilmember Reid. The motion was approved unanimously. COUNCILMEMBER - POSITION NO. 4 BILLY ENOCHS 252 votes KEVIN HOLLAND 1,127 votes PAT MCGINNIS 1,415 votes COUNCILMEMBER - POSITION NO. 6 ANDY RIVERA 694 votes DEIRDRE CAREY BROWN 1,390 votes JEFF MOSER 781 votes **Councilmember Reid moved to approve Resolution R2010-21 — a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, providing for a Run-Off Election to be held on June 5, 2010, for the purpose of electing a Councilmember (Position No. 6); designating the polling places and appointing election officials for such election; providing the form of the ballots at such election; directing the giving of notice of such election; and containing other provisions relating to the subject. Seconded by Councilmember Holbert. The motion was approved unanimously. 05/13/2010 3337 Mayor Smith stated there had been some questions this week about the legality of this meeting, City Attorney Bobby Gervais provided Mayor Smith and Council a written legal opinion, has checked and double checked whether the City Charter and Council's Rules of Procedure have been properly followed. Councilmember Reid asked what the problem was and Mayor Smith explained how the meeting date and runoff election date was arrived and getting the election done as soon as possible, Council has deadlines that need to be accomplished, was comfortable getting Staff recommendations. Councilmember Reid asked why new Councilmember Pat McGinnis is weighing in since he is elected and Mayor Smith stated maybe consideration of others. Councilmember Barr asked City Manager Roger Roecker to weigh in on Council's upcoming needs and the City Manager stated the budget needs are to be worked on and decided by August 1, 2010, lots of work needs to be done. Council needs a retreat and other meetings that need work done. Councilmember Barr stated Council orientation needs to be done and has discussed it with new Councilmember Pat McGinnis. The City Manager stated when you step on the other side of the dais as a Councilmember you have new responsibilities, there is a lot to be learned and done. Councilmember Barr stated if Council moves the election date it would move everything forward. Janis Lowe asked for a point of privilege to speak regarding legality. Mayor Smith stated point of privilege is for Council only. Candidate Deirdre Carey Brown asked for a point of privilege and Mayor Smith stated meaning no disrespect but has to stick to the agenda. Councilmember Reid stated she had not planned on getting political but since candidate Deirdre Carey Brown brought it up, she is endorsing candidate Jeff Moser, wanted to make it perfectly clear. A motion was made and approved to adjourn at 7:14 PM. Mayor David J.H. Smith Attest: Cly Melinda Welsh, TRMC pCity Secretary c, 0 OFE