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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/25/2011 - Regular Minutes City Council MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF COLLEGE STATION JULY 25, 2011 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Nancy Berry Council: Blanche Brick Jess Fields Karl Mooney Katy-Marie Lyles Julie Schultz, absent Dave Ruesink City Staff: David Neely, City Manager Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager Frank Simpson, Assistant City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary Shelley Major, Records Management Coordinator Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum present, the Regular Meeting of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Nancy Berry at 7:01 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2011 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77842. 1. Pledte of Allegiance, Invocation, consider absence request. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Lyles and a second by Councilmember Ruesink, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to accept the absence request from Councilmember Schultz. The motion carried unanimously. • Citizen Comments There were no citizen comments. RM072511 Minutes Page 1 CONSENT AGENDA 2a. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of minutes for July 12, 2011 Retreat, and July 14, 2011 Workshop and Regular Council Meeting. 2b. Presentation, possible action, and discussion to adopt Resolution 07-25-11-2b, awarding a construction contract to Allstate Signal and Construction in the amount of $276,591.75. 2c. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding ratification and approval of expenditures in a total amount not to exceed $55,000.00 for FY11 for the purchase of Westlaw online research services and printed materials from West Group for the City's Legal Department. 2d. Presentation, possible action, and discussion to adopt Resolution 07-25-11-2d, awarding a construction contract for the Victoria Avenue Extension Project to Knife River, Inc. in the amount of $1,804,427.41. 2e. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding adopting Resolution 07-25-11- 2e, reducing the Cemetery Committee size from nine to seven members as per the current Cemetery Committee's recommendation. 2f. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the adoption of Resolution 07- 25-11-2f, adopting the Community Development Department's FY 2012 (PY 2011) Action Plan and Budget. Item 2f was pulled from the Consent Agenda. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Lyles and a second by Councilmember Fields, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to approve the Consent Agenda, less item 2f. The motion carried unanimously. (2f)MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Mooney and a second by Councilmember Lyles, the City Council voted five (5) for and one (1) opposed, to adopt Resolution 07-25-11-2f, adopting the Community Development Department's FY 2012 (PY 2011) Action Plan and Budget. The motion carried unanimously. REGULAR AGENDA 1. Public Hearing, presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding the impacts of Senate Bi11100 and its effects on future City elections. At approximately 7:19 p.m., Mayor Berry opened the Public Hearing. Lynn McIlhaney, 2022 Oakwood Trail, chair of the Citizens Charter Review Commission, presented the Council with their recommendation to go to four-year teens in May of odd- numbered years and to change Article 111, Section (f) to term limits of eight consecutive years. RM072511 Minutes Page 2 They felt strongly that council positions are non-partisan, and those races and other elections could get lost in party debate. They also believe this should be the only amendment on the November 2011 to have time to educate the public on other charter issues. Since ballot language must be given to the County Clerk by August 12, there is not ample time to educate on their other recommendations. Brian Bochner, 5111 Bellerive Bend, reported that the undervote in the last two November elections was 15-25%. So even though there could be a bigger turnout, many don't vote in local races, and we would lose that advantage. At each election we could be electing about half the members, but we would still have continuity and have a longer term view, benefiting the community. Also, there would be half the election cost with elections every two years. Going to odd-years, wouldn't have to purchase voting equipment Bernice Lewis, 4605 St. Andrews, stated that she has worked with elections for fourteen years. She has conducted primary elections and worked with county elections, as well. Each year she sees the primary expenses creep up more and more. If primary expenses are going up, then county expenses are going up as well. If the City stays with May elections, the cost will be exorbitant because of having to purchase equipment, increased payroll, storage and maintenance. The most fiscally responsible way is to go to November elections, which is a cost sharing thing. The expense would be low compared to running our own elections. The City would save money in every way. Maggie Charleton, 1611 Treehouse Trail, stated that Senate Bill 100 is going to change the way we do City and school elections. It opens up the possibility of bringing in partisan politics into city and school election. Local issues need to be discussed, not piggy-backing onto state and national politics. She asked the Council to maintain the non-partisan nature of our City and school elections. We need, as a community, to discuss the issues that are important to our community. Changing the charter to adjust the length of terms of office seems to be the best option. Jerry Cooper, 602 Bell Street, said there was another possibility to consider. We could keep our election in May, but put it on the date of the primary run-off election. He is sure, considering the position legislature has put the City in, that the Secretary of State would provide an exception or waiver. If there is no runoff, then it becomes totally our election. Keeping election in May allows us to have the election before budget considerations. If elections are in November, he Council would be making a budget when members are going out of office. He asked the Council to avoid November at all costs, if possible. Three-year staggered terms works extremely well. The fourth Tuesday in May is the best option. Anne Hazen, 1309 Wilshire, said she does not support changing the month of our election. Council will take off just after election for the holiday season. It will be hard to get people to run in the fall because of football season. We will be competing with state and federal race for time. National parties will confuse the local issues. She recommends that we stay in May and go back to punch cards. RM072511 Minutes Page 3 David Woodcock, 1511 Wolf Run, stated his support of four-year staggered terms in May of odd-numbered years. Sherry Ellison, 2705 Brookway, said that two-year terms are not anything we should get into. There is the potential to lose so much knowledge. It is important that positions be done in staggered terms. It is also important the elections not be partisan; they should be focused on local issues. She asked that the Charter Commission be continued into 2013 if the Commission's recommendation is accepted. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 7:44 p.m. Councilmember Fields moved to accept the City Secretary's option to remain with three-year staggered terms and moving to the November uniform election date. The motion failed for lack of a second. At approximately 8:38 p.m., Mayor Berry re-opened the Public Hearing. Parviz Vessali, 110 Pershing, stated that the costs of elections concern him. November elections are his choice. He gives more credit to the people that partisan elections will not happen again. Voter turnout in November is higher and gives voters more choices and items to do. He recommends keeping three-year terms. Two years is not enough, and four-year terms with two term limits of eight years are too long. Patrick Gendron, 205 Lampwick Circle, clarified there will be not be elections in May 2012, and this condenses the time to do anything by November 2011. The earliest time for charter amendment election is November 2012. So November 2013 is just waiting one more year. The general consensus of the Commission was the hubbub of November elections and getting lost in the national and state races. College Station can set the precedence on this issue. The Commission likes the three-year terms, and the second best is four-year terms in May of odd- numbered years. If we do this, it is probable that Bryan and the schools will follow suit. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:50 p.m. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Fields and a second by Councilmember Lyles, the City Council voted one (1) for and five (5) opposed, with Mayor Berry and Councilmembers Brick, Mooney, Lyles and Ruesink voting against, to remain with three-year staggered terms and moving to the November uniform election date. The motion failed. Councilmember Mooney requested the Commission to look at the issue of recall for inclusion on a possible November 2011 Charter Amendment Election. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Fields and a second by Councilmember Mooney, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to bring this item back at a Special Meeting on Monday, August 8, 2011 for a Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. RM072511 Minutes Page 4 2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on recommendations by the Sunset Review Commission, and appointin Councilmembers to boards and commissions. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Mooney and a second by Councilmember Ruesink, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to accept the report and Sunset as recommended. The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Fields and a second by Councilmember Brick, the City Council voted six (6) for and none (0) opposed, to appoint Councilmember Mooney to the Audit Committee. The motion carried unanimously. 3. Adjournment. There being no further business, the Mayor adjourned the Regular Meeting of the City Council at 9:47 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2011. Nancy Berry, ATTEST: Sherry Mas urn, City Secretary RM072511 Minutes Page 5