HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharter Review Minutes 2001-09-27 r
STATE OF TEXAS )(
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )(
COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )(
SEPTEMBER 27, 2001 )(
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CHARTER REVIEW
COMMISSION THAT WAS HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2001 AT 7:00 PM AT
FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL, SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD
DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A
QUORUM:
CHAIR STEVE HUFFMAN
MEMBER HARLESS BENTHUL
MEMBER LAURA EWING
MEMBER WAYNE FORD
MEMBER LARRY SEELIG
CITY ATTORNEY JOHN OLSON
CITY MANAGER RON COX
CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE
Members Carl Hill and Dennis Holt were absent from the meeting.
Mr. Steve Huffman, Chair of the Charter Review Commission, called the meeting to order
at 7:10 PM..
"Member Ewing moved to approve the Charter Review Commission Minutes of September
13, 2001 with clarification of the scheduled meeting dates.
Seconded by Member Seelig. The motion was approved unanimously.
City Attorney John Olson, City Manager Ron Cox, and City Secretary Deloris McKenzie led
the review of the Charter, section by Section through Section 8.04 with explanations.
Discussion continued regarding the following.
Section 1.02 - Form of government— adding in legislation and a list of possible changes.
Section 2.02 - Change of boundaries and annexation of territory — annexation of territory.
City Manager Cox re-capped annexation, ETJ's, and boundaries.
Section 2.03 — Eminent domain - Eminent domain and state law provisions.
Sections 2.04 - Streets and public property
Section 2.05 — Street development and improvements
Section 2.06 —Tort liability— City Attorney Olson explained the City's exposure
Section 2.07 —Zoning
Section 3.01 — Number, selection, term, and term limitations — Discussion was held
regarding current term limits.
H:\Charter Minutes 9-27-0 L doc
Sections 3.02 - Qualifications
3.03. —Judge of election qualifications
Section 3.04 — Compensation - Compensation was discussed regarding a per diem for
Council. City Secretary Deloris McKenzie provided a survey of varying cities compensation
amounts for councils
Section 3.05 — Mayor and mayor pro tem - next in line in case of emergency, possibly
Rules of Procedure, Emergency Management, Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 3.06 — Vacancies, forfeiture, filling of vacancies - City Attorney Olson explained
the forfeiture clause
Section 3.06c — Election to be called — Discussion was held regarding the current
requirements to fill vacancies calling for a "First Available Election Date", "Temporary
Appointments" or the appointment process and the new state law on elections.
Look at election dates and when elections can be held.
Section 3.07 — General powers and duties — Discussion was held regarding the provision
for the Mayor signing subdivision plats
Section 3.08 - Prohibitions
Section 3.09 — Meetings of Council - The Charter states that Regular Meetings shall be
held at City Hall and discussion was held to allow to hold regular meetings other than at
City Hall.
Section 3.10 - Rules of procedure
Section 3.11 — Ordinances in general — discussed required readings and considering going
to one reading, an effective date, and reading captions aloud.
Section 3.12 — Emergency ordinances
Section 3.13 — Codes of Technical regulations
Section 3.14—Authentication and recording, codification, printing
Section 3.15 — Bonds for city employees
Section 3.16— Investigation by the city council
Section 3.17 — Officials protected from financial loss — This section will be reviewed
including provisions for appointed administrative officials.
Section 4.01 — City manager
Section 4.02 — Municipal court.
Section 4.03 — City attorney
H:\Charter Minutes 9-27-01.doc
Section 4.04—City secretary
Section 4.05—Administrative departments
Section 4.06 — Personnel system
Section 5.01 —General authority - Initiative, Referendum and Recall.
Section 5.02 — Initiation of proceedings, petitioners' committee; affidavit
Section 5.03 — Petitions - review requirements with state statute.
Section 5.04— Determination of sufficiency
Section 5.05 - Reserved
Section 5.06 —Action on petitions
Section 5.07 — Results of election
Section 5.08— Power of Recall
Sections 5.09— Recall election
Section 5.10 — Results of recall election
Section 5.11 — Limitation on recall
Section 5.12 — Failure of council to call an election
Section 5.13 — Failure of council to call an election on recall
Section 6.01 —City Elections
Section 6.02 — Filing for Office
Section 6.02b. Procedure and schedule for filing — Discussion was held regarding
increasing the number of signatures of registered voters for petitions from 10 to 25 for
Friendswood Elections according to state statute
Section 6.03 — Ballots
Section 6.04 — Canvassing and election results - Discussion was held regarding the
request by Councilmember Measeles to change run-off elections, majority vs. plurality;
Section 6.04d - Notification and taking office - bringing into statutory compliance.
Section 7.01 - Tax administration
Section 8.01 — Financial administration
Section 8.03 —Annual budget - Discussion was held regarding staff to review this section.
H:\Charter Minutes 9-27-01.doc
Section 8.04 — Amendments after adoption - This section was reviewed. The Commission
will continue the review process at the next meeting.
After the initial review, the Commission will start over to discuss areas of concern. Then a
Public Hearing will be scheduled. After the Public Hearing is held, the commission will
then meet to refine the proposed amendments.
A motion was made and approved to adjourn at 9:08 PM.
Deloris McKenzie, TRMC
City Secretary
HACharter Minutes 9-27-Ol.doc
i
STATE OF TEXAS )(
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )(
COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )(
SEPTEMBER 27,2001 )(
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF A MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 27, 2001 AT 7:00 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL, SECOND
FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE,
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, REGARDING THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ACCORDING TO THE AGENDA LISTED BELOW:
7:00 PM
1. Call to order.
2. Approval of Minutes of September 13, 2001.
3. Discussion regarding review of the Charter.
4. Adjournment.
This facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parldng spaces are available.
Requests for accommodations or interpretive service must be made 48 hours prior
to the meeting. Please contact the City Secretary's Office at (281) 996-3270 for
further information
I, DELORIS MCKENZIE, CITY SECRETARY OF THE.. CITY OF.
FRIENDSWOOD DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE NOTICE OF
MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WAS
POSTED IN A PLACE CONVENIENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN
COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER 551, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, ON
SEPTEMBER 21, 2001 AT 5:30 PM.
at
2?�-
VELORIS MCKENZIE, TRMC
CITY SECRETARY
cc: M & cc
ITV MGR