Min - City Council - 1995 - 02/28 - WorkshopALLEN CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CALLED WORKSHOP
CHARTER REVIEW
FEBRUARY 28, 1995 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MUNICIPAL ANNEX
Present:
Joe Farmer, Mayor
Councilmembem:
Kevin Lilly, Mayor Pro Tem
David Kerr
David Bishop
Mike Nichols
Steve Terrell (absent)
Sharon Hamner
City Staff:
Jon McCarty, City Manager
Judy Morrison, City Secretary
Michael Stanger, Assistant to City Manager
Others Present:
Terrell Blodgett, Expert Charter Counsel
Pete Smith, Expert Legal Counsel
Call to Order
(Agenda Item 1)
With a quorum of the Councilmembers present, the Special Called Workshop Session of the Allen City
Council was called to order by Mayor Farmer at 7:04 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 1995, in the Council
Chambers, Municipal Annex, One Butler Circle, Allen, Texas.
Review and Affirm iavm.aoe for Housekeemm Amendments (Agenda Item II)
Council received a copy of the 'red -line" Home Rule Charter updated by legal counsel, Pete Smith.
Council was instructed to review the copy and bring it back to the regular Council meeting on Thursday,
March 2, 1995 with any comments to be discussed, changed or reviewed by Mr. Smith.
Consider Policy Amendments
(Agenda Item IID
Michael Stanger, Assistant to City Manager, distributed a 'Decision Tree' regarding election issues for
Council to consider. Discussion was held regarding term limits, different limits for Mayor and Council,
maximum terms for each position, and various issues regarding the topic of term limits. After much discussion,
Council concluded the term limitation issue would not be a part of the Charter Amendment ballot.
ALLEN CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP SESSION
FEBRUARY 28, 1995
PAGE 2
Council discussed the issue of changing the terms of office. They discussed staggered terns, length of
terms, number of terms and many variations on the topic Council concluded the issue terms of office would not
be an issue for the May ballot.
Council discussed changing the method of elections from plurality to majority and geographical
representation. Council felt that geographical representation was not needed in Allen due to lack of minority
pockets and also the issue that Council has concerns regarding creating divisions within the City which are not
necessary Council chose not to include on the ballot any changes regarding methods of election.
Council discussed various other issues:
Section 2.03. Compensation.
Council agreed there would be no change with regard to this issue in the present Charter
Section 10.04. Nepotism.
Council agreed to retain the previous wording that is now in the Charter rather than the suggested
wording that tracks state law as presented by legal counsel.
Section 10.01. No officer or employee to accept gift, etc.
Council agreed to keep the current wording in the Charter rather than tracking Penal Code
wording. It was also suggested that Council develop an ordinance dealing with the acceptance
of gifts in order to clarify the statements in this section.
Section 2.17 Conflict of Interest.
Council agreed to track state law with regard to the conflict of interest statement in the City
Charter.
Section 10.05 Personal Interest.
There was a great deal of discussion regarding the personal interest statement currently in the
City Charter. Council agreed to accept the wording by legal counsel with regard to this issue and
again for Council to consider adopting an ordinance more specifically dealing with personal
interest of officers and City employees.
. Sections 2.06 and 2.12. Powers/Creation of New Department or Office.
Council agreed that the present wording will be retained to the City Charter.
Section 3.05. Administrative Departments.
Council agreed this section will be deleted with an addition of wording to address activities,
Council confirmations and work provisions. Council indicated they did not wish to see Council
confirmation of department heads in the new wording.
Discussion was held regarding the legal and charter counsel's participation to the public hearing at the
regular meeting on March 2, 1995. It was the intent of Staff that the City Council would "sit back" and hear
any public input but that the City Manager would introduce counsel and counsel would address issues brought
up by citizens during the public hearing.
ALLEN CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP SESSION
FEBRUARY 28, 1995
PAGE 3
Adjourn (Agenda Item IV)
The Charter Review Special Called Workshop was adjourned at 10:17 p on. on Tuesday, February 28,
1995.
These minutes approved on the 16th day of March , 1995.
APPROVED:
Farmer, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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Ju Mo on, CMC, CITY SECRETARY
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