Minutes Charter Review 06/02/2008Minutes of Regular Charter Review Commission Meeting for the
Town of Trophy Club
LOCATION: 100 MUNICIPAL DRIVE, TROPHY CLUB, TEXAS
PUBLIC SERVICE CONFERENCE ROOM
Monday, June 2,2008 at 4:00 P.M.
ST ATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF DENTON §
The Charter Review Commission for the Town of Trophy Club, Texas, met in a Regular Session
on Monday, June 2, 2008. The meeting was held within the boundaries of the Town and was
open to the public.
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION (CRC) MEMBERS PRESENT:
William (Bill) Rose CRC Chair
Bob Downey CRC Vice-Chair
Ben Brewster CRC Recording Secretary
Roger Williams CRC Member
Richard (Scott) Briggs CRC Member (will miss the next 2 meetings)
Larry Crosser CRC Member
Melissa Klauss CRC Member (arrived at 4:45 p.m.)
ABSENT:
Richard Hobday CRC Member
JoelOuile CRC Member
STAFF AND GUEST(S) PRESENT:
Brandon Emmons Town Manager
Stephen Seidel Assistant Town Manager
Lisa Ramsey Town Secretary
Council member Moss
MUD Director Cantrell
A.1 Chairman Rose, noting a quorum, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
A.2 Citizen Presentations:
No citizen presentations made.
A.3 Staff Presentation; this is an opportunity for staff to address the CRC on any matter
related to the Charter Review whether or not it is posted on the agenda.
Town Secretary, Lisa Hennek advised the Commission that she will not be at next week's
meeting; Shannon DePrater will be attending in her absence. Hennek updated the Commission
that they will only be approving the May 17'h and 19th Minutes under Item B.1. Currently the May
5th and 1i h Minutes are outstanding and will be considered on June 9th . Hennek informed the
Commission that the Town Council would begin meeting at 5:00 p.m., starting June 16th and
continuing through August.
Commissioner Brewster questioned whether the Commission would have staff support as stated
the Handbook for Elected and Appointed Official and expressed concern about the online log
being current and update. Town Secretary, Lisa Hennek advised the Commission that either she
or the Deputy Town Secretary would continue to support them and eX~lained that eight to ten
PA's were submitted at the Commission's Saturday meeting on May 17 h. Hennek had the joint
election the previous Saturday and then was on vacation the following week. Hennek updated
the log over the weekend and the log is current and up to date.
Commissioner Briggs advised that he will miss the next two meetings.
All matters listed as Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the CRC and will be
enacted by one motion. There will not be a separate discussion of these items. If discussion is
desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately.
B.1 Consent Agenda: Discuss and take appropriate action to approve Minutes dated, May
12,17 and 19.
Commissioner Crosser's Motion: "to approve the Minutes dated May 1i h and 19 th ."
Commissioner Williams seconded. The motion was amended to a~prove the minutes, noting
Commissioner Brigg's absence on May 1i h and Downey's on May 191
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Motion to approve the May 1i h Minutes as amended passed 5:0: 1, with Briggs abstaining.
Motion to approve the May 19 th Minutes as amended passed 5:0: 1, with Downey abstaining.
END OF CONSENT
C.1 Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Town Council May 19, 2008 agenda
item "A.S Town Council to discuss the Charter and to provide direction to the Charter
Review Commission."
19 thCommissioner Downey gave a brief summary of the Town Council's May meeting.
Commissioners Brewster and Briggs asked to review the tape of this meeting and will do so after
the Commission adjourns.
C.2 Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Municipality of Trophy Club
Handbook for Elected and Appointed Officials.
Chairman Rose explained the Handbook for Elected and Appointed Officials and said he would
like to investigate whether or not the acknowledgment forms and Texas Open Government
Training Certificates are kept on file as indicated on the first page of Handbook. Rose questioned
whether informal training is occurring as mentioned in the Handbook and asked the Commission
their thoughts about pursuing an investigation.
The Commission agreed that based on the information provided to them they are not subject to
the Open Meetings Act. Town Attorney Adams and Town Manager Emmons agreed that this
Commission is strictly an advisory group. Town Attorney Adams is comfortable that as an
Advisory Group the Commission will only be making recommendations to the Council and is not
bound by the Open Meetings Act.
Commissioner Downey would like the Commission to consider white paper and not an
investigation. The Commission agreed.
C.3 Recording Secretary, Commissioner Brewster to update the Commission with
recommendations received. (Recommendations presented will be included to the
Minutes as exhibits.)
Chairman Rose presented PA Add Council Compensation. It was based on an input by Connie
White. Rose noted that staff is being diligent with the online PA log updates.
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C.4 Discuss and take appropriate action regarding Article IX Budget, Finance, and
Taxation and related Charter provisions.
Chairman Rose asked the Commission whether they wanted to discuss Article IX, section by
section. Commissioner Brewster identified the following as key items to consider. The sub
committee has had two meetings to discus the budget process. The sub-committee would like to
see the annual ending report that details accomplishments, the cost of service delivered
compared to similar entities and that staff involve the Council earlier in the planning process.
Commissioner Brewster said that staff has a budget workshop in February and Council is not
brought in until May/June; by then the Council only has a couple of months to review and it is too
late and too hard to amend with things that Councilor residents would like included in the budget
document. Additionally, the sub-committee is looking at a performance based budget.
Chairman Rose advised the Commission that he would attend the scheduled meeting with Ways
and Means Advisory Group meeting, and requested the CRC review the budget background
information that was forwarded to them.
Commissioner William's Motion: "to Items C.4 and C.S until next Monday." Commissioner
Downey seconded; motion carries unanimously.
C.S Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed amendment Budget Process
Enhancement and related Charter provisions.
C.G Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed amendment Align Majority
of Council Verbiage contained in various provisions throughout the Charter.
Chairman Rose said this amendment was suggested by Commissioner Hobday and he
mentioned some reservations regarding the proposal prior to leaving for his vacation.
Commissioner Downey's Motion: "to table to a date uncertain." Commissioner Crosser
seconded; motion carries unanimously.
C.7 Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed amendment Reduce Recall
Signatures Required and related Charter provisions.
This item was previously delayed pending the definition of qualified voter by Town Attorney
Adams. Adams recommends leaving the definition of registered voters as is.
Commissioner William's Motion: "to advance to roundup, changing from 20% to 10% and leaving
the word qualified in the definition." Commissioner Rose seconded; motion carries unanimously.
C.B Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed amendment Franchise Term
and related Charter provisions.
Chairman Rose clarified that the Commission is waiting on a per forma from staff and for
Commissioner Hobday to return.
Commissioner Downey's Motion: "to table until next week." Commissioner Rose seconded;
motion carries unanimously.
C.g Discuss and take appropriate action regarding proposed amendment Add One
Councilmember and Three Year Terms and related Charter provisions.
Council member Moss said that he does not have a position on this proposal. Moss continued
that Council was in favor of this last year but felt that the Town was still too small and that it would
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be more appropriate once the Town built out. Moss reminded the Commission that a candidate
must win by 50% or a run-off election would have to be conducted.
Commissioner Brewster's Motion: "to advance to roundup." Commissioner Downey seconded;
motion carries unanimously.
The Commission discussed the PA Adding 1 Council member.
Commissioner Rose's Motion: "to strike out the majority of the Council and leave the Mayor, in all
applicable places." Commissioner Crosser seconded; motion carries unanimously.
C.10 Discuss and take appropriate action regarding how the CRC will proceed.
The Commission discussed alternate meeting times and considered meeting space conflicts and
staff support. The consensus was to leave the meetings as currently scheduled. Commissioner
Brewster advised that the Commission is planning another town hall meeting.
C.11 Items for Future Agenda.
Items CA, C.5, C.6 and C.a.were tabled and will be posted to next week's meeting.
C.12 Reports. There will be no action taken regarding any individual project posted under
this item and discussion will be limited. If extensive discussion is required, the item
may be placed on a future agenda.
No reports given.
C.13 Adjourn.
Commissioner Williams moved to adjourn, Commissioner Briggs seconded, motion carried
unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 5:11 P.M.
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Lisa Hennek, Town Secretary Bill Rose, Chair
Town of Trophy Club, Texas Charter Review Commission
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