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Home My WebLink About1980-04-07 Special Meeting • MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA PORTE CITY COMMISSION AND THE CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE LA PORTE, TEXAS APRIL 7, 1980 6:30 P.M. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PRESENT: Mayor J. J. Meza, Commissioners John Tomerlin, I. J. Kibodeaux, Virginia Cline and Tom C. Simons. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ABSENT: None. MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE PRESENT: H. P. Pfeiffe]~; .` /~. H. Carlos Smith, Eugenia Riley, Robert Daniels, Marilyn Kelley, • Dan Kennedy, and Bob White. MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE ABSENT: Bob Davis, Dennis Dunham, Gracie Gonzales, Robert McCarty, Wm. S. Love, Jr., and Jack Gresham. OTHER CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT: James R. Hudgens, City Administrator; Betty Blackmon, Acting City Clerk; Knox Askins, City Attorney; H. F. Freeman, Police Chief; Jack Burks, Public Works Director; Paul Hickenbottom, Asst. Fire Marshall; David Paulissen, Code Enforcement. OTHERS PRESENT: Norman Mallcne, Mayor of Lomax; Betty Waters, Lomax City Clerk and Mr. Waters; John Courville; Evelyn Kennedy; Betsy Webber; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Westergren, Jr.; Wm. P. Jones; J. B. Womack; Rufus Smith; Sara Odell; Weldon Randall; Fred Beck. PRESIDING - Mayor J. J. Meza. • + + + Special Meeting - 4/7/80 2 • 1. CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Mayor Meza. + + + 2. INVOCATION - The Invocation was given by Commissioner Cline. + + + 3. DISCUSS REDRAWING OF THE SIX DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES TO INCLUDE LOMAX - Motion by H. Carlos Smith, seconded by Marilyn Kelley of the Charter Revision Committee to redraw the boundary lines as presented by Gail Hamilton of Knox Askins office. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Simons to accept the recommendation of the Charter Revision Committee. Motion carried by the following vote: . AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. The Districts to be drawn as follows: District 1 - Lomax District 2 - Underwood Road to Big Island Slough District 3 - Big Island Slough to Railroad District 4 - North part of City District 5 - East of Broadway and North of Little Cedar Bayou District 6 - South part of City. + + + 4. DISCUSS GIVING FINAL APPROVAL TO THE WORDING OF THE CHARTER DOCUMENT - Motion by Charter Revision Committee person H. Carlos Smith, seconded by Robert Daniel to amend Article III, 3.02 to read as follows: THE CITY MANAGER SHALL APPOINT A DIRECTOR TO SUPERVISE AND CONTROL EACH DEPARTMENT. WHEN NECESSARY FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY, THE CITY MANAGER MAY REMOVE ANY SUCH DIRECTOR. Motion carried. • Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Simons to accept the recommendation of the Charter Revision Committee. Motion carried by the following vote: Special Meeting - 4/7/80 • AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, and Simons. NAYS: Commissioner Cline. 3 Motion by Charter Revision Committee persons Marilyn Kelley, seconded by Dan Kennedy to amend Article III, 3.03 to read as follows:. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL APPOINT A COMPETENT PERSON TO BE THE SECRETARY OF THE CITY. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Cline to accept the recommendation of the Charter Revision Committee to amend Article III, 3.03 as presented. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. + + +~ 5. DISCUSS AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SUBMIT THE FINAL DOCUMENTS AND BEGIN PREPARATION FOR THE CHARTER REVISION ELECTION IN AUGUST - Motion by Commissioner Simons, seconded • by Commissioner Tomerlin to authorize the City Attorney to submit the final Charter Revision Documents and begin election preparations for the Charter Revision Election. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. -!- + + 6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS c Knox Askins, City Attorney stated the need of an Ordinance to name the day and hour for the consoli- dation of the Cities of La Porte and Lomax to take place. Mr. Hudgens, City Administrator, asked for 10 to 12 days to com- plete preparations. + + + 7. COUNCIL ACTION - There was no Council Action. + + + • • LJ Special Meeting - 4/7/80 4 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION - V.A.T.S. - ARTICLE 6252-17 - SECTION 2 - E , F , AND G - (LEGAL, LAND ACQUISITION, AND PERSONNEL) - There was no executive session. + + + 9. ADJOURNMENT - Motion by Commissioner Cline, seconded by Commissioner Kibodeaux to adjourn. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 P.M. • Betty Blac on, Acting City Clerk Passed and Approved this the 16th day of April, 1980 J. J. Meza, Mayor • • • MEMORANDUM March 24, 1980 TO: Council and Charter Revision Committee FROM: J. J. Meza, Mayor SUBJECT: Joint Meeting I have called a joint meeting of the Council and the Charter Revision Committee for Monday, April 7, 1980, at 6:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting will be to 1. Redraw the six district boundary lines to include Lomax. (I am assuming passage of consolidation on 4-5-80. ) 2. Give final approval to the wording of the Charter docu- ment. 3. Authorize the City Attorney to submit the final documents . and begin preparation for the Charter Revision election in August. Your attendance and participation at this meeting is very important. Sinc , _---- - J. J. Meza Mayor JJM/cb ~ ~ April 2, 1980 To: Charter Revision Committee CITY OF LA PORTE Mayor and City Commissioners CITY OF LA PORTE James R. Hudgens, City Administrator CITY OF LA PORTE From: Gail J. Hamilton, Assistant City Attorney Re: Agenda for April 7, 1980 I have enclosed the following proposed revisions for your consideration: 1. "Clean-up" provisions - formal wording for the 9-member council and its phase-in: 2.01 Changes number of Councilpersons representing districts Districts are now to be designated by numbers, and at-large positions are to be designated by letters 8.09 Changes election day 8.10 Wording of transition from Commission to Council 2. Several revisions which have been suggested by Commissioner Simons: 3.02a,b Eliminates "upon reccomendation of City Manager" 3.02c Makes City Manager's personnel appointments subject to Council approval 3. Two versions of 3.03, which would change the manner of appointment of City Secretary - These have been proposed at various times by various people. Also enclosed is a chart of the transition from Commission to Council. • • • ARTICLE II • CITY COUNCIL 2.01 Composition of City Council a. Members of Council. City Council shall be composed of a mayor and eight (8) Councilpersons. The positions of Councilpersons shall be designated as follows: Councilperson--District 1 Councilperson--District 2 Councilperson--District 3 Councilperson--District 4 Councilperson--District 5 Councilperson--District 6 Councilperson-at-large--Position A • Councilperson-at-large--Position B The Mayor and the two (2) Councilpersons-at-large shall be elected by a majority vote of the City at large. The City shall be divided, as described below in subsection b, into six (6) districts, Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and one (1) Councilperson shall be elected from each district by majority vote of the resident voters of such district. b. Formation of districts. City Council shall divide the City into six (6) districts which are reasonably compact, contiguous and of as nearly equal population as practicable. It shall be the duty of City Council to establish the boundaries of six (6) districts covering the entire City for the purpose of electing District Councilpersons. • Such boundaries shall be established by ordinance, which shall be final for purposes of this Charter. The first • ARTICLE VIII, Page 9. • (8.09 continued) be adopted in its entirety. For these reasons the charter commission directs that said charter be voted upon as a whole and that it shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the City at an election to be held for that purpose on the 9th day of August, 1980. The form of ballot to be used in such election shall be as follows: FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER. AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER. c. Results of vote for adoption. If a majority of the • qualified electors voting in such election shall vote in favor of the adoption of the charter, and after the returns have been canvassed, the City Clerk shall file an official copy of the charter with the records of the City. The City Commission shall at its next meeting declare this charter adopted. The Clerk shall furnish the Mayor a copy of said charter, which copy of the charter so adopted, authenticated and certified by his signature and the seal of the City, shall be forwarded by the Mayor to the Secretary of State of the State of Texas and shall show the approval of such charter by majority vote of the qualified voters voting at such election. • ARTICLE VIII, Page 10. • 8.10 Provisions for transition ~~ a. Tenure of officers during transition. From and after the date of the adoption of this charter and until the completion of the first election under this charter to be held on the first Saturday in April, 1981, and the quali- fication of the Councilpersons therein elected, the present qualified and acting commissioners and mayor shall consti- tute City Council. Such City Council shall possess all the powers provided by this charter. After said election and until the election to be held on the first Saturday in April, 1982, and the qualification • of the Councilpersons and Mayor therein elected, the present qualified and acting Commissioner--position 2 shall serve as Councilperson-at-large--Position A; the present qualified and acting Commissioner--position 4 shall serve as Council- person-at-large--Position B; and the present qualified and acting mayor shall serve as Mayor. These Councilpersons and Mayor, along with the Councilpersons elected and quali- fied as provided in subsection b, below, shall, for the duration of their terms of office, compose City Council and shall possess all the powers provided by this charter. b. Original election of Mayor and Councilpersons. Councilpersons representing districts shall be elected at the election to be held on the first Saturday in April, 1981, • for terms of office as follows: ARTICLE VIII, Page 10-1/2. • (8.10 continued) Councilperson--District Councilperson--District Councilperson--District Councilperson--District Councilperson--District Councilperson--District • three (3) year term one (1) year term one (1) year term two (2) year term two (2) year term three (3) year term 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Councilpersons-at-large and the Mayor shall be elected at the election to be held on the first Saturday in April, 1982, for terms of offices as follows: • Councilperson-at-large--Position A, one (1) year term Councilperson-at-large--Position B, two (2) year term Mayor, three (3) year term Following these terms of office, all Councilpersons and the Mayor shall be elected to three (3) year terms, accord- ing to the provisions of Article II of this charter. • ARTICLE III, Page 3. (3.01 continued) r: contents. Said letter shall be in force and effect for the duration of the City Manager's employ or until he files another such letter. 3.02 Administrative departments a. Creation. There are hereby created the following administrative departments: finance, police, fire, law, public works, health, parks and recreation, and water and sewer. Council may by ordinance create or abolish offices, departments, or agencies other than the offices, depart- • ments, or agencies established by this charter. b. Consolidation. Council may consolidate or redesig- Hate any of the offices, departments and agencies. c. Directors. The City Manager shall appoint a director to supervise and control each department. When necessary for the good of the City, the City Manager may remove any such director. Such appointments and removals shall be with the advice and consent of a majority of the entire City Council. Such director shall be an officer of the • City and shall have supervision and control of his depart- ment, subject to the supervision of the City Manager. Two (2) or more departments may be headed by the same individual, and directors of departments may also serve as chiefs of divisions. The City Manager may head one or more depart- ments. ARTICLE III, Page 4. . (3.02 continued) • d. Divisions. The work of each administrative depart- ment may be distributed among such divisions thereof as may be established by ordinance of this charter. 3.03 City Secretary With the advice and consent of City Council, the City Manager shall appoint a competent person to be secretary of the City. The City Secretary shall: a. give notice of council meetings. b. authenticate by his signature and record in full in a book kept and indexed for the purpose all ordinances • and resolutions. c. perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by Council or elsewhere in this charter. 3.04 Municipal Court a. Establishment. There shall be established and maintained a Municipal Court with all powers and duties as are now, or may hereafter be, prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas for municipal courts. b. Municipal judge. City Council shall appoint a competent attorney, duly licensed by the State of Texas, to be judge of the Municipal Court. He shall serve at the pleasure of Council and shall receive compensation as may be fixed by Council. • U ARTICLE III, Page 4. . (3.02 continued) • d. Divisions. The work of each administrative depart- ment may be distributed among such divisions thereof as may be established by ordinance of this charter. 3.03 City Secretary The City Council shall appoint a competent person to be secretary of the City. The City Secretary shall: a. give notice of council meetings. b. authenticate by his signature and record in full in a book kept and indexed for the purpose all ordinances and resolutions. • c. perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by Council or elsewhere in this charter. 3.04 Municipal Court a. Establishment. There shall be established and maintained a Municipal Court with all powers and duties as are now, or may hereafter be, prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas for municipal courts. b. Municipal judge. City Council shall appoint a competent attorney, duly licensed by the State of Texas, to be judge of the Municipal Court. He shall serve at the pleasure of Council and shall receive compensation as may be fixed by Council. - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ N S-I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.,.~ ~ ~ +~ r -I O r I U ~ ~ N +~ O Ul tf) U +~ ~ N U 1 FC N ~' 1 Uq U U ~ •r -I ~ N~ aU fa • +~ I O 0.U ~ r-I •r-I ~ U1 • -rl r--I •r-I VI •~ ~-I 00 •r-I r-I ~ •ri ~-I Q •,~ •rl U -I-~ p ~ U1 1 oQ o ~a cQ +~ U ?, f~ O U U U Rf ~ m U ~' .~ O ••-I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ N ~ N N ~ ~ ~ ~ ~, -r-I Q a •~I Q -~ ~ m ~ ~ N ~ ~ ~ i ~ t11 1 ~ o~ +~ o o ~ ~ ~, ~ O U ~ td U •r•I U1 •~ S-I +~ O U ~ N ~ a ~ U l • i ~ ~ N ~ a a m a ~ ~ Q ~ s~ s~ s~ .~, Q •~I N O O I ~ U ~ M I U ~ ~ la +~ ~ U U N •ri O U U O U ~ rl o ~ ~, ~ ~ •~ a a +~ a~ ~ -~I r--I Q ~ •,~ Ca -~ I O U U f~ N ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ ~ O ~ O U W ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ • O U • N ~- O m ~ m U ~ N •r-I ~ ~ ~ _ O U I S~ S~ I ~ P + >~ ~ O ~ O U r-I I to O m~ s~ ~ O cn~ O ~- O Sa O U i U }-+ m FCa ~~ U ~ ~ ~ a ~-r-1 a N -~I la •~' ~-' ~' U •--~ •ri U +~ •r-i N ~, FC s~ U1 is a1 U M S~ UI U ~ S-I ~ •r-I Q S`I ~ r-I O Q ~ ~, U +~ I UI U 1 cn U ~ N U U ~ U •r1 rt+ PO-i ~ a U Q Q .-~ N rn o ~ O y..l m N to d' ~ U .,..1 - -r1 - -I-~ a-- ~ U N M ~ Ul (~ N r-i I ° ° ° ° is ~i cd N Zi o o ~ ~ a c ~ ~ a c ~ ~ w o -~I o -~+ o 00 N -,.{ N -rl N +~ N ~ •ri •rl •ri -r-1 • N ~ N N N ~ ~ ~ O py •'-I a -rl ~ U ~ N U ~ N ~ O U O U o~ P -i P .~ r~ _ _ • c: MEMORANDUM April 7, 1980 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: J. R. Hudgens SUBJECT: Election Canvassing Ordinance Mr. Askins has informed me that the ordinance to canvass the April 5, 1980, election will be brought by him to the Council meeting of April 9, 1980. J. R. Hudgens JRH/cb n