2018_11.08_CSC_MinutesCHARTER STUDY COMMITTEE MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 8, 2018
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
405 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
REGULAR SESSION AT 6:00 PM
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brian Johnson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mayor Brian Johnson, Vice -Chair Bob Gruenhagen, Gail Uranga, Robert Mundy,
Kenneth Michels, John Clark, and Cheryl Pond *; Absent: NONE
Staff: City Attorney Betsy Elam and City Secretary & Communications Coordinator Leslie Galloway
*Cheryl Pond was nominated at the time of this meeting, but not officially appointed to the Charter Study Committee
until the Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, November 12, 2018.
III. REGULAR SESSION
A. Discuss purpose and charge to the committee
Mayor Brian Johnson stated that Home Rule Charters were often described as the
"Constitution of a City" and were typically reviewed every five years to seek changes that
were needed or might serve to benefit the City.
B. Discuss committee rules of procedure
Mayor Johnson stated that each member should carefully review the Charter and be
prepared to present their recommendations for items to review or proposed changes at the
next meeting; and that there would be a chance for public input at the end of the process.
John Clark, Chair of the original Charter Committee, gave a brief overview of the process
used to draft the original document in 1997, stating that priorities included an eye towards
the future, checks and balances, and making sure the document fit the community's needs.
Robert Mundy, who served on the original Charter Committee, noted that there were seven
amendments proposed to voters in May 2016, six of which passed.
C. Receive a presentation by the City Attorney's Office and hold a discussion regarding Home
Rule City Charters and amendments thereto
City Attorney Betsy Elam stated that the Charter is in good shape in relation to state law and
presented a brief overview of the key purpose of a Charter — securing and protecting power
at the local level. She added that this committee is a recommending body, and that
ultimately City Council will decide which, if any, of the resulting recommendations are
submitted to voters and the form of those propositions.
Elam stated that Home Rule Cities can do anything not preempted by state law, and
directed the committee to Figure 3 -1 of "Texas Home Rule Charters" by Terrell Blodgett,
which highlights "State preemption of home rule provision ".
Elam advised that bond counsel should be involved in the review of the debt issuance
portion of the Charter.
D. Begin identifying and discussing the committee's desired Charter topics for further
discussion and /or research
There was a brief discussion among the committee members including form of government,
length of Council terms, districting, term limits, and petitions.
Elam requested that likely topics be sent to her beforehand so that she could prepare.
E. Discuss a regular meeting schedule and set next meeting date and time
The next meetings of the Charter Study Committee were scheduled for:
• Tuesday, November 20, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall; and
• Wednesday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brian Johnson adjourned the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
APPROVED:
M 1' YOR BRIAN JOHNSON, CHAIR
ATTEST:
LESLIE GALLOWAY, CITY SECRETARY
I
I l'ii,1111h. I 1`J
Page 2 of 2