HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 10-24-2012 Charter Review Commission Minutes
October 24, 2012
Community Board Room
Members Present:
Chairman Bill Agan
Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter
Member Loyce Greer
Member Janece Hill
Member Doug Knowlton
Member LaRue Wall
City Staff Present:
City Manager Curtis Hawk
Audience Present:
Beverly Williams
Chairman Agan called the meeting to order at 7:03PM
1. Read and Approve minutes from last meeting
(October 17,2012)
0114 Member Wall motioned to approve the minutes from October 17, 2012.
Member Hill seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
2. Review City Charter.
Secretary Ritter motioned to invite City Manager Hawk to the discussion table and be
involved in the discussion.
Member Knowlton seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
City Manager Hawk stated that there could be a proposition which would allow for the
Codification and clean-up of the current Charter to make it more current.
Section 6.05—Appointment or Removal by City Council
The consensus of the Commission was to include this Section in the "Clean-Up"
ordinance.
Section 6.06—Appointment and Removal of City Secretary
The consensus of the Commission was to include this Section in the"Clean-Up"
ordinance to align with State Law indicating the Secretary shall be appointed by the City
Council.
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Section 6.08—Municipal Court of Record
City Manager Hawk will provide language for this Section, especially regarding the
Municipal Judge in order for the Section to be in alignment with State Law.
Article VIII—Public Utilities
The consensus of the Commission was to propose a new"Section 8.03 —Mineral Rights"
to allow regulation of Gas Leases and other mineral rights belonging to the City.
Section 9.04—Competitive Bidding
City Manager Hawk stated that State Law regulates Competitive Bidding, and Mr. Hawk
will provide language to bring the Section into compliance with State Law. Mr. Hawk
indicated that this section could be included in the "Clean-Up" ordinance.
Section 9.05—Franchises and Special Privileges
City Manager Hawk stated that this Section must be very specific, and therefore he would
provide language for the Section.
Section 10.01 —Acquisition of Property
The consensus of the Commission was to modify paragraph 6 regarding the reference to
the "Vernon's Statutes"to modernize the language to reference the new State Statutes.
This Section could be included in the "Clean-Up" ordinance.
• Section 12.01 —Preparation and Submission
City Manager Hawk recommended modifying the Section to provide for 2 readings of the
Budget and provide for a Town Hall and/or Public Hearing prior to final approval of the
Official Budget.
Section 12.02—Hearing
The consensus of the Commission was to modify the Section to provide for the State-
mandated public hearing being held in June.
Secretary Ritter inquired of City Manager Hawk as to the nature of the "Clean-Up"
proposals.
Mr. Hawk stated that there could be 2 or 3 "Clean-Up"proposals that would affect
several Sections of the Charter.
Mr. Hawk stated that one proposal could change all Sections regarding the requirement of
a simple majority of the City Council rather than a super-majority of the City Council,
another proposal could change all sections regarding State Law provisions, and perhaps
another could change all Sections dealing with contracts. In this way,the voters would
have fewer proposals on the ballot rather than having to specifically modify each Section.
The Commission agreed that designing such provisions would be a priority in order to
make important and needed modifications.