HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 09-05-2012 Charter Review Commission Minutes
September 5, 2012
Community Board Room
Members Present:
Chairman Bill Agan
Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter
Member Janece Hill
Member Doug Knowlton
Member LaRue Wall
Members Absent:
Member Loyce Greer
Audience Present:
Beverly Williams
Michaela Williams
Chairman Agan called the meeting to order at 7:02PM
1.Read and Approve minutes from last meeting
(August 29, 2012)
• Secretary Ritter read to the Commission an E-Mail he sent to members of the City
Council thanking them for allowing the Commission to continue. Ritter stated he sent
each member of City Council a copy of the running draft of the Charter so they would all
see our progress to date.
The Commission expressed its approval of the E-Mail.
2. Review City Charter.
Section 7.01 —Fiscal Year
The consensus was to shorten the State Law reference and retain existing language.
Section 7.02—Itemized Budget: Contents, including Preparation, Submission and Budget
Message
The consensus of the Commission was to remove items#13 and 14 as per Attorney
Elam's recommendation.
Section 7.03—Anticipated and Proposed Revenues Compared with Past Years in Budget
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 7.04—Budget a Public Record
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
0110 Section 7.05—Notice of and Public Hearings on Budget
The consensus of the Commission was to remove the reference to January, and renumber
the other provisions. Secretary Ritter and Member Wall stressed the importance of
having the proposed budget available to the public.
Member Knowlton stressed the importance that the proposed budget must be made
available to the public early enough for the Council to be able to act upon any input from
the public.
Member Knowlton stated he would like to revisit this Section again and give it more
thought.
Section 7.06—Budget Proceedings after Public Hearing
The consensus of the Commission was to remove this section.
Section 7.07—Required Vote and Date of Final Adoption of Budget
The consensus of the Commission was begin the Section with"Should the Council... "
and include "...beginning of the next fiscal year... " as the required date.
Section 7.08—Effective date of Budget: Certification, Copies Made Available
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
• Section 7.09—Appropriations and Amount of Property Tax to Be Established In Budget
The consensus of the Commission was to remove this section.
Section 7.10—Annual Appropriation Ordinance
The consensus of the Commission was to shorten the Section to include, "The City
Council shall consider an appropriation ordinance using the City Manager's estimate as
a basis. Provision shall be made for public hearings upon the appropriation ordinance
before the City Council." and to keep the last paragraph, "Following the final... "
Section 7.11 —Transfer and/or Lapse of Appropriations
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 7.12—Estimated Expenditures Shall Not Exceed Estimated Resources
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 7.13—Contingent and Other Necessary Appropriations
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed but move the
last sentence to be #4 of Section 7.14.
Section 7.14—Administration of Budget: Execution and Monitoring
The consensus of the Commission was to add#4 from the last sentence of Section 7.13.
•
• Section 7.15—Assessment, Collection and Due Date of Taxes
The consensus of the Commission was to follow Attorney Elam's recommendation and
add"and assessment"to#1 and to remove all other paragraphs.
Section 7.16—Power to Tax
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed and add, "...and
this Charter."
Section 7. 17—Taxation of Franchise
The consensus of the Commission was to remove this Section.
Section 7.18—Limitation of Tax Rate
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed and add,
"... as provided by State Law. "
Section 7.19—Property Subject to Tax: Method ofAssessment and Alternative Methods
of Equalizing or Adjusting Taxes
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 7.20— Tax Liens
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
• Section 7.21 —Incurring Indebtedness: Borrowing, Interest and Sinking Funds, Revenue
Bonds, Execution/Registration, and Bond Register
Attorney Elam recommended the Bond Counsel review this Section. The consensus of
the Commission was to keep the section as is as similar to the Frisco section and allow
the City Council to review the section with the City's Bond Counsel.
Section 7.22—Five-Year Capital Program
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 7.23—Designation of Depository for City Funds
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
ARTICLE VIII—Boards, Committees, and Commissions
Section 8.01 -Authority
Secretary Ritter recommended adding to #3, "...unless any additional board will disband
within a 6 month period."and changing "City Council"to "City Secretary" in paragraph
9.
As per Attorney Elam,the Consensus of the Commission was to reflect State Law with
regards to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Paragraph 12 should include, "The City Council shall be informed and be provided an
opportunity to replace the Board Member. "
3. Assignment for Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 12, 2012 for the Commission to
continue reviewing the Charter.
The Commission will begin with Article IX—Planning and Zoning Commission and
Board of Adjustment
4.Public Comments
Beverly Williams—Happy to see the Commission working again and working through
some very difficult material.
5.Adjournment
Secretary Ritter motioned to adjourn.
Member Hill seconded.
Chairman Agan adjourned the meeting at 9:00 PM.
Jeff Ritter-Secretary Bill Agan-Chairman