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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2008-12-04 Special 12/04/2008 3047 ""' STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( DECEMBER 4, 2008 )( MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2008, AT 4:30 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, 910 SOUTH FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: MAYOR DAVID SMITH MAYOR PRO TEM ANDY RIVERA COUNCILMEMBER MIKE BARKER COUNCILMEMBER JIM BARR COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL COUNCILMEMBER LESLIE REID COUNCILMEMBER BILL HOLBERT CITY ATTORNEY BOBBY GERVAIS ACTING CITY MANAGER ROGER ROECKER CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION Council convened into Executive Session in accordance with the Texas Government Code, pursuant to Section 551.071 - Consultation with attorney concerning pending or contemplated litigation; a settlement �- offer; or a matter in which the duty of the attorney requires it and Section 551.072 - Deliberation regarding real property and Section 551.074- Personnel Matters (City Manager and City Secretary). Council convened into Regular Session at 7:00 pm with no action taken later in the meeting. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION SPECIAL SESSION Mayor Smith called the meeting to order. A discussion was held regarding the Mayor's appointment of a "Green" Committee. Mayor Smith asked for Council to consider input as to the creation of a "Green" Committee and also asked Council to provide input either to Mayor Smith or to the Acting City Manager, Roger Roecker, as to the creation of this committee. Councilmember Barker stated he had previously expressed that he does not think the City needs this committee and thinks this is not a priority of Council. Councilmember Rivera stated that previously Council opened a Pandora's Box by having the committee on the agenda and asked Staff to research with other cities and present their findings to Council and then Council will see what the City would like to do. Mayor Smith stated he brought this to the table due to some changes that some residents would like to see. Councilmember Barr stated this was previously discussed and an article in the newspaper stated a committee had already been formed and suggested that Mayor Smith appoint a temporary committee, and is not the worst idea out there. Councilmember Barr stated he sees this as embracing those names that have been suggested foe appointments, "Green" is a hot topic in the community and likes the idea of a short term committee so that Council can see what the City can be looking at to be more"green", believes this is the extent what is wanted from those folks. Councilmember Reid stated she would be in favor of the idea and would love to have a group of people to advise the City. """' Councilmember Hill stated the City is opening itself up for more problems and thinks Staff has done what they can do to be "green" but is not real easy to be "green" on everything, there are not a lot of options, going "green" is another fad that will not last long. Councilmember Barker stated that it seems like the 12/04/2008 3048 same peopie are being appointed, there are the same types of input and seems like it is not the intention "" of the City to appoint a diverse group for new input. Councilmember Holbert stated he would go with any way it is determined and is continually astounded that the only argument Council has is over committees, not willing to buy into anything that is divisive or derail where the City is moving forward, stated he is a focused person, draw a list or a plan and stay within the plan. Mayor Smith stated if there is more for him to know then he would like to hear from Council. Mayor Smith stated the subject was brought up because he thought there may be some opportunities out there that he would like to see explored that would benefit the City and citizens. Mayor Smith stated he would like to have this possible Green Committee research and bring back possibilities, he does not believe Council or Staff has the time to do this type of research, also stated Council would not look at the same people to serve and would look into tapping new resources. Councilmember Rivera stated he has a problem with forming another committee and having studies done, and stated he does not agree with the committee to solve issues. Mayor Smith stated he will hear from some of these people whether there is a committee appointed or not and does not think these issues will go away and he likes the idea of a temporary committee, has heard what Council had to say and is willing to hear from Council. Councilmember Hill stated there are inefficient City buildings that cannot be retrofit after the fact and does not think research from the committee will be unbiased. A discussion was held regarding roles of Committees and Council Liaisons. Councilmember Rivera stated the Committees are advisory and some of the existing Committees think they direct Council rather than make recommendations. Council Liaisons are there to he�p keep the Committee stay on task. Councilmember Barr stated some of the Committees function backwards, because the members are Council appointed and sometimes politically attached, it puts Staff at a disadvantage and stated he thinks the Committee role and Council Liaisons policy should be redone, the Committee should not have direct access to Council and should work directly with the Staff and be under their control, Committee's are not policy making for the City, allow Staff to bring information to the Committees for Committee input and allow Staff to determine if the recommendation is usable and then present it to Council. Mayor Smith stated he understands that Committees are set up to advise Council, the majority of the Committees "�""" make recommendations to Council and does not see the need for it to be changed. Councilmember Rivera stated in Fort Worth, Texas, the Advisory Committee made recommendations to Staff and then Staff determined if the recommendations would be good for the City and then would make the recommendations to Council. Mayor Smith stated Council discusses the role of Committees every year, different Council's have differing opinions as to how to work with the Committees, then hear from the Committees whether want to or not, then it puts Staff in the middle, resulting with politicking. Councilmember Barr stated when Council put people on Committees with political influence it makes it difficult for Staff to work under those constraints and Staff knows what is needed. Mayor Smith stated there are a couple of possibilities, our Staff has enough trust in Council to say whatever they believe is best, another way is to clean house and remove those with political influence or passion, another way is to set up parameters as to Committee roles, there are many possibilities for Council to consider. Councilmember Rivera stated the City hires a City Manager who hires Staff and then have a Committee to assist them. The Committee should not be on the same level as the City Manager. The City Manager should be getting recommendations from his Staff with the feedback from the Committee's and make a recommendation to Council. Councilmember Rivera stated the Committee should serve at the pleasure of Council. Councilmember Barr stated we have a policy for Council Liaison/Council-Committee relationship, where is the relationship with Staff. Mayor Smith stated the formal role is for Committees to make recommendation to Council and to have a working relationship with Staff, there is a lot of expertise and Council's role is to monitor those Committees and is responsible to the actions of Committees. Councilmember Reid stated volunteers are the heart and soul of Friendswood and if they do something that saves the City money then that is helpful to the City. The purpose of Committee membership is to give citizens who are passionate about the matter a voice. If we put the Committee members in a box, then we will not get out of the box information. Staff is in a box, the Committees know that they are advisory, if Council has a problem with a member, address it at the time it comes up. ...� 12/04/2008 3049 "'�� A discussion was held regarding the May 2009 Bond Referendum and the FY2009 Capital Improvement Projects, Impact Analysis and General Obligation. Seven proposed projects were discussed such as Park Land Acquisition (Sports Park), Baker Road Detention Pond/Park Facilities, City Hall Parking Lot, adding a $100,000 for concession stands for the sports park, the Pavement Management Plan Implementation (Phase 1) to change the number to $400,000, changes to different projects with changes to the bond amount from $13,323 to $15,723 million adding $1 Million for roads to the bond to change the amount to $16,723 million, suggesting grouping into three different categories as in roads, parks and City facilities, discussed $300,000 for Galveston County and bond projects which can be taken out of the reserves and also discussed with the City Secretary the timeline for ordering an election. RECONVENE INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION Council convened into Executive Session in accordance with the Texas Government Code, pursuant to Section 551.071 —Consultation with attorney concerning pending or contemplated litigation; a settlement offer; or a matter in which the duty of the attorney requires it and Section 551.072 — Deliberation regarding real property and Section 551.074— Personnel Matters (City Manager and City Secretary). Council reconvened into Regular Session with no action taken later in the meeting. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION This meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM. _ , ;�' ,�.., 1 Mayor Dav J.H. Smith Attest: � � � � loris McKenzie, TRM O� FR��a� City Secretary r � v O �t * tP �►,9rF� �+a, �