HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-25-12 Citizen's Charter Review Advisory CommissionCHUCK HARRINGTON
Chair
DAVID BRADY
Vice Chair
NOLAN ALLEN
TIM COWART
PAUL FEAZELLE
MARK FOLLIS
NANCY LOTZE
NANCY OJEDA
STAN SHERWOOD
CITY OF LA PORTE CITIZENS' CHARTER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
The Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission met on September 25, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the
La Porte City Hall Council Conference Room, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, to
consider the following items of business:
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman Chuck Harrington called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Commissioners present
were: David Brady, Tim Cowart, Mark Follis, Nancy Lotze and Stan Sherwood. Commissioner
Paul Feazelle arrived at 6:20 p.m. Absent: Commissioners Nancy Ojeda and Nolan Allen. Staff
present: Patrice Fogarty and Clark Askins.
2. Approval of minutes of Commission meeting on September 11, 2012.
Commissioner Sherwood moved to approve minutes of the Commission meeting on
September 11, 2012. Commissioner Brady seconded. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Discussion/action regarding review of the City of La Porte Charter. Commissioner Feazelle arrived
after the vote on approval of the minutes.
3. The Commission began examination of Article IV.
Article IV. Budget
4.01(a) and (b) — No proposed changes.
4.01(c) — Staff will check with Michael Dolby, Finance Director, to ensure no changes needed for
this section.
4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, and 4.06 — No proposed changes.
Article V. Finance Administration
5.01(a) — Staff will check with Michael Dolby, Finance Director, to ensure no changes needed for
this section.
5.01(b) — Board of Equalization: Propose to delete entire section.
5.01(c) — Payment of Taxes: Propose to leave as is unless the word "accessor" should be
removed. Staff will check with Michael Dolby, Finance Director, to ensure no other
changes are needed for this section.
5.02 — Purchase Procedures: Propose to use the language from the City of Pearland's Charter
found at 8.17 Purchase procedure. All purchases made and contracts executed by the city shall
be pursuant to a requisition from the head of the office, department or agency whose appropriation
Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission
Minutes of September 25, 2012 Meeting
will be charged, and no contract or order shall be binding upon the city unless and until the city
manager certifies that there is to the credit of such office, department or agency a sufficient
unencumbered appropriation and allotment balance to pay for the supplies, materials, equipment, or
contractual services for which the contract or order is issued. All purchases made and contracts
executed by the city shall be made in accordance with the requirements of this charter and all
applicable requirements of the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas. All contracts for
purchases or expenditures must be expressly approved in advance by the council, except that the
council may by ordinance confer upon the city manager, general authority to contract for
expenditures without further approval of the council for all budgeted items the cost of which does not
exceed the constitutional and statutory requirements for competitive bidding.
5.03 Alterations in contracts — Propose to add Local Government Code reference on change
orders and add the language "pursuant to state law" where applicable. Additionally, staff
will seek input from Michael Dolby, Finance Director, and Susan Cream, Purchasing
Manager.
5.04 Fees shall be paid to city — No proposed changes. Staff will seek input from Michael Dolby,
Finance Director.
5.05 Borrowing — 5.05(a)(1) and (2) no proposed changes; 5.05(b)(1) and (2), no proposed
changes.
5.05(b)(3) Staff will seek input from Michael Dolby, Finance Director, and the City's bond counsel.
5.06 Disbursement of funds — Staff will seek input from Michael Dolby, Finance Director.
5.07 Independent audit — Staff will seek input from Michael Dolby, Finance Director.
5.08 Appropriations lapse at end of year — No proposed changes.
Article VI. Initiative, Referendum and Recall
No proposed changes to entire article except to amend where it reads "electors" to read "registered
voters."
Article VII. Franchises and Public Utilities
Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins will carefully review this article for any proposed changes to
bring before the Committee, and will propose an update in 7.01, on page 39 of the Charter where
the statutes are mentioned.
At the next meeting, review will begin at Article Vill General Provisions.
4. Discussion/action regarding setting next meeting date.
The next meeting will be on October 9, 2012, at 6:00 p.m., in the council conference room.
5. Commission Comments — Matters appearing on agenda; Recognition of community members, city
employees, and upcoming events; Inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing
policy.
There were no additional comments from Commission members.
Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission
Minutes of September 25, 2012 Meeting
6. Adjourn
There being no further business, Commissioner Brady moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Commissioner Sherwood seconded. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Resppctfully submitted,
Patrice Fogarty, CV Secret.fy
Pas d nd pro v on Oct 9, 2012.
Chuck Harrington, Ch an
Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission
Minutes of September 25, 2012 Meeting