HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 03-22-2012 Charter Review Commission Minutes
March 22, 2012
Community Board Room
Members Present:
Chairman Bill Agan
Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter
Member Loyce Greer
Member Doug Knowlton
Member LaRue Wall
Audience Present:
Janece Hill
Jeremy Hill
Beverly Williams
Michaela Williams
Chairman Agan called the meeting to order at 7:03PM
1. Read and Approve minutes from last meeting
(March 15, 2012)
Member Wall motioned to approve the minutes from the March 15, 2012 meeting.
(-*'A Member Greer seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
2. Review City Charter.
Member Greer pointed out that the City Attorney will be able to catch any problems or
errors in the proposed Charter.
Chairman Agan stated that the Commission should try to have the City Attorney at the
next meeting or as soon as possible so that the Commission can begin the finalization of
the Charter.
Section 9.07—Zoning Board of Adjustment
Member Greer recommended adding verbiage that the Mayor will appoint the
Chairperson of the Board, and the Vice Chairman and Secretary be elected from the
members of the board.
Secretary Ritter motioned to add"The Chairman shall be appointed by the Mayor with
the approval of the City Council", and to remove the words "three year terms".
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.01 —Powers of the City
Member Greer motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.02—Power and Ordinance to Grant Franchise
Secretary Ritter motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Greer seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.03- Transfer of Franchise
Secretary Ritter motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Knowlton seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.04—Franchise Value Not To Be Allowed
Member Wall motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Greer seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.05—Rights of Regulation
Member Wall motioned to approve the section as written.
Secretary Ritter seconded.
011) The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.06—Regulation of Rates and Services
Secretary Ritter motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.07-Licenses
Member Wall motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Knowlton seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 10.08—Mineral, Gas and Oil Rights and Revenues
Secretary Ritter stated he could not support placing all gas revenues into a Permanent
Fund to be used only in the case of major disasters. Ritter pointed out that there are often
reasons to spend revenues on major projects and emergencies within the City and that the
City Council should not have its ability to spend that money removed.
Member Knowlton stated he agreed that the funds should not be placed away
permanently, but that the City Council should not be able to spend the funds frivolously.
Member Greer pointed out that many Councils do not place importance on keeping funds
available for emergencies and therefore encounter financial difficulties when
eiN emergencies do arise. She recommended that there be some fund set aside only for
emergencies.
Secretary Ritter agreed that there should be an emergency fund, but that the Council
should be able to draw from that fund if the need arises.
Member Wall recommended that there be a special meeting and election called for the
purpose of expending the fund so that the public knows the circumstances of the
expenditure.
Member Knowlton motioned to accept the section with the verbiage, "The revenue from
the lease, sale or barter of any minerals, gas and oil rights or production, to include
revenue from agreements to lease surface rights for the purposes of resource recover,
shall be deposited in a separately held fun that may be invested in U.S. Government
Securities and as provided by State Law. The principal deposited shall be withdrawn
only after an affirmative vote of the people at a special election called for such purpose."
Secretary Ritter seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote
The Consensus of the Commission was to begin reviewing Chapter 13.
Section 13.01 —Rules of Construction
Member Greer motioned to approve the section as written.
Secretary Ritter seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 13.02—Procedure for Amendment to the Charter
Member Greer motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Knowlton seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 13.03—Amendment of the Charter
Member Wall motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Greer seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 13.04—Charter Review Commission
Secretary Ritter recommended changing the word "finds"to "findings" for clarity.
Member Knowlton recommended changing the word"may"to "shall"regarding the
providing of information to the Commission.
Member Greer pointed out that"finds" is as appropriate as "findings".
Member Ritter agreed. The Commission agreed to keep the word"finds".
Member Knowlton motioned to approve the section as amended.
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
^ r
Section 13.05—Administrative Amendment
Secretary Ritter questioned the meaning of having two public hearings for the City
Council to amend the Charter. He stated that the provision could make the Charter too
easily modifiable without another Charter Review.
Members Knowlton and Greer agreed.
Member Wall motioned to table the section until after consultation with the City
Attorney.
Member Knowlton seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Section 13.06—Separability of Portions of the Charter
Member Greer motioned to approve the section as written.
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
3. Assignment for Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for March 29, 2012.
Continue reviewing Charter beginning with Article 11.
Chairman Agan pointed out that the City Attorney may be in attendance to help with the
legal requirements of Article 11 and the Charter in general.
4. Public Comments
Janece Hill—Thanked the Commission for the hard work of meeting every week to
complete the reviewing process.
Beverly Williams—Great job on a very detailed and exhaustive process of reviewing the
Charter.
5. Adjournment
Secretary Ritter motioned to adjourn.
Member Wall seconded.
Chairman Agan adjourned the meeting at 8:38 PM.
Jeff Ritter-Secretar Bill Agan-Chairml ��