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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharter Review Minutes 2001-10-25 r STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( OCTOBER 25 2001 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION THAT WAS HELD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001 AT 7:00 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL, FIRST FLOOR EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: CHAIR STEVE HUFFMAN MEMBER HARLESS BENTHUL MEMBER CARL HILL MEMBER LAURA EWING MEMBER WAYNE FORD CITY MANAGER RON COX CSO RECORDS SPECIALIST KATHLEEN ODELL Mr. Steve Huffman, Chair of the Charter Review Commission, called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM. A memo dated October 24, 2001 from City Attorney John Olson regarding charter issues was given to the members of the Charter Review for their review. The memo contained information regarding statutory requirements for "petitions for elections" and "a possible conflict between the requirements of the Charter and the Texas Election Code. City Attorney suggested that this information be discussed at the next meeting. The Charter Review Commission reviewed and discussed the following sections. Section 6.03 — Ballots Section 6.04— Canvassing and election results Section 6.04a — Canvassing Section 6.04b — Majority Section 6.04c — Runoff election — Discussion was held regarding to consider this section further. Request City Attorney Olson to check if the threshold can be reduced from 50% to some other amount, perhaps 40%. Section 6.05 — Oath of office Section 7.02 — Power to tax Section 8.01 — Fiscal Year Section 8.02 — Public Record Section 8.03 — Annual Budget - A report will be prepared by the Director of Administrative Services, Roger Roecker, for the next meeting. fA Section 8.04— Amendments after adoption Section 8.05 — Borrowing for capital improvements — Request City Attorney Olson to Yeview. Section 8.06 — Lapse of appropriations — Discussion was held regarding clarification, the budget process, build-up of funds, reserves, and management philosophy. Section 8.07 —Administration of budget Section 8.08 — Purchasing Section 9.01 — Powers of the city Section 9.02 — Power to grant franchise — Discussion was held regarding the wording "with consent of the franchise holder". Request City Attorney Olson to review. Section 9.03 — Ordinance granting franchise Section 9.04— Grant not to be exclusive Section 9.05 —Transfer of franchise Section 9.06 — Franchise value not to be allowed Section 9.07 — Right of regulation Section 9.08— Extensions Section 9.09 — Regulation of rates Section 9.10 — Public service corporations to file annual reports Section 9.11 — Accounts of municipally-owned utilities — Discussion was held regarding city utilities, such as water and sewer, being audited annually. Section 9.12 — Sales of municipal services — Request City Attorney Olson to review both Section 9.11 and 9.12 to see if either can be eliminated. Section 9.13 — Franchise records Section 11.01 — Public records Section 11.02 — Official newspaper — Request City Attorney Olson to review this section to see if it can be eliminated. Section 11.03 — Personal financial interest — Request City Attorney Olson to review and clarify this section. Section 11.04 — Nepotism Section 11.05 - Assignment, execution, and garnishment Section 11.06 — Security or bond not required Section 11.07 — Separability clause Section 11.08—Amending the Charter Section 11.09 — Charter review commission Section 11.10 — Submission of charter to voters Discussion was held regarding the following sections to be reviewed for the next meeting. Section 1.02 — Form of government—Adding "federal" to the reference to laws Section 3.04 — Compensation — Request comments from the members of the Charter Review Commission Section 3.06c — Vacancies, forfeiture, filling of vacancies — To be reviewed by City Attorney Olson and City Secretary Deloris McKenzie. Section 3.09 — Meetings of council —Wording to allow meeting "anywhere in the city" g g g Y Y Section 3.11c&d — Effective date— Request City Attorney to review. Section 3.17 — Officials protected from financial loss — Request City Attorney Olson to review. Section 5.03b — Sufficient petition, final determination — City Attorney Section 6.01 — Cityelections — Request City Attorney Olson to review. q Y Y Section 6.02b — Procedure and schedule for filing — Request City Attorney Olson to review. Section 6.04 — Canvassing and election results — Request City Attorney Olson to review. Section 8.03 — Annual budget — City Manager Cox and Director of Administrative Services Roger Roecker will prepare a report. Section 9.02 — Power to grant franchise - Request City Attorney Olson to review "with consent of the franchise holder". Section 9.05 —Transfer of franchise — Request City Attorney Olson to review. Section 9.11 — Accounts of municipally-owned utilities — can this be eliminated. Request City Y Attorne to review. Section 9.12 — Sales of municipal services — can this be eliminated. Request City Attorney to review. Section 11.02 —Official newspapers — Request City Attorney Olson to review Section 11.03 — Personal financial interest — Request City Attorney Olson to review for clarification Discussion followed regarding holding a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 8, 2001 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers with a Charter Review Commission meeting to follow in the Executive Conference Room. Chair Steve Huffman requested that the Public Hearing notices be sent to the newspaper to be published October 31, and November 7, 2001. Discussion following regarding holding the Charter Review Commission meetings on November 29", December 6th, and December 20, 2001. The Commission agreed on these dates. The meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM Kathleen Odell Records Specialist