[A. CALL TO ORDER - MAYOR]
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ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS 5:34. TODAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 27TH, AND THIS WILL START OUR PRE-COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'LL START THE ROLL CALL.
[C. SPECIAL WORK SESSION AGENDA]
THIS WILL TAKE US TO OUR SPECIAL WORK SESSION, AND THIS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MR. GRANT.ALRIGHTY, GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THE PRESENTATION WE HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS TO GO OVER YOUR CURRENTLY ADOPTED PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND RULES OF ORDER. ALSO DEEMED THE BYLAWS. WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT NAME.
ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU ALL FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT AT ANY TIME AND ASK QUESTIONS OR STOP ME OR CLARIFICATION YOU KNOW, I CAN GET ROLLING THROUGH PRETTY QUICK. SO PER SECTION 3.06 OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER, THE CITY COUNCIL WAS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE, ESTABLISH AND ADOPT ITS OWN RULES AND PROCEDURES. SO I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE APPLICABLE TERM THERE FOR YOUR REFERENCE, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE CHARTER WAS ADOPTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.
SO THEREAFTER COUNCIL IN JANUARY 2023, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT PROVISION, ADOPTED THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER, CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH OTHERWISE IS KNOWN AS THE BYLAWS.
THE FIRST MEETING BEING TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE CURRENTLY ADOPTED BYLAWS, BUT THESE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE AND THEN ULTIMATELY ADOPTION BY COUNCIL. I THINK ONE THING TO NOTE AND THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE IS THE BYLAWS ARE THE CITY'S ACTIVE RULES OF PROCEDURE, RULES OF ORDER.
THERE'S BEEN SOME REFERENCE IN THE PAST TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
SO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER ARE THE CITY IS NOT OFFICIALLY ADOPTED ROBERT'S RULES.
HOWEVER, IT IS GOOD GUIDANCE, RIGHT? SO IF THERE'S EVER A GRAY AREA OR AN AREA THAT'S NOT ADDRESSED IN THE BYLAWS, THEN YOU CAN LOOK TO ROBERT'S RULES FOR GUIDANCE.
HOWEVER, THE BYLAWS ARE THE GOVERNING RULES OF PROCEDURE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
SO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO OVER THE BYLAWS WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND ULTIMATELY BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE ROBERT'S RULES TO SEE IF WE WANT TO ADD SOME MORE MEAT IN AREAS THAT NEED IT IN THE BYLAWS.
SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF MENTION THAT TO YOU GUYS.
ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING THROUGH THE BYLAWS, A COUPLE KEY PROVISIONS.
THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KIND OF PROCEEDING THROUGH THE MEETING, MAKING SURE EVERYONE YOU KNOW, THERE'S ORDER IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. LET'S SEE.
SO SECTION 2.9 OF THE BYLAWS, ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC ALL MEETINGS SHALL BE OPEN AND TO THE PUBLIC, UNLESS OTHERWISE ALLOWED BY STATE LAW. SO ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK UNDER PUBLIC APPEARANCE, OR IF THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY DO SPEAK, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO ANY REASONABLE RULES THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED, AND AND AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, ORDER, DECORUM, ETC..
SO SECTION 4.5 LIMIT DELIBERATIONS TO ITEM ON HAND.
I THINK THIS IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. JUST MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING AN ITEM, JUST TO KIND OF STAY ON TOPIC, AND MAYOR IS KIND OF PROVIDING PRESIDING OFFICER AND CHAIR, IT'S KIND OF THE RESPONSIBILITY, AND I'LL, YOU KNOW, ME, I CHIME IN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO KIND OF MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS ON TOPIC, AND THE REASON BEING IS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE PROVISIONS OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 4.6, AND I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A TYPO ON Y'ALL'S SHEET IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT SHOULD BE LENGTH OF COUNCIL COMMENTS, NOT LIMIT DELIBERATIONS.
IT SAYS THAT THE MAYOR WILL ALLOW EACH MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S BEEN SPEAKING.
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THEY HAVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES. IF THEY SPEAK MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.THE MAYOR GIVE KIND OF A COURTESY KIND OF REMINDER THAT YOUR FIVE MINUTES IS UP.
MOVING DOWN TO SECTION 4.7, OBTAINING THE FLOOR.
I KNOW PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS MORE OF AN ISSUE, BUT I THINK THE NEW TECHNOLOGY DOES HELP WITH THAT.
ALL RIGHTY THEN. MOVING ON TO 4.8 MOTIONS. JUST AS A REMINDER THAT THERE'S ALWAYS THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A FIRST AND A SECOND ON ON ALL ALL MOTIONS, AND THERE'S SPECIFIC TYPES OF MOTIONS, MOTIONS TO TABLE, ETC.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON MOTIONS, WHETHER NOW OR ANYTIME LIVE DURING A MEETING.
I'M OBVIOUSLY HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
BEFORE A MOTION CAN BE CONSIDERED OR DEBATED, IT MUST BE SECONDED.
SO YOU HAVE A FIRST AND YOU HAVE A SECOND. ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WISHES TO MAKE A MOTION, WHETHER IT BE FIRST OR SECOND, SHOULD DO SO THROUGH A VERBAL REQUEST TO THE MAYOR.
I THINK YOU GUYS TYPICALLY ARE REALLY GOOD AT THIS. JUST SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. OR MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION. LET'S SEE ONCE A MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MADE AND SECONDED, THE MAYOR SHALL OPEN THE MATTER FOR DISCUSSION.
OFFERING THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, THE MOVING PARTY, AND THEREAFTER, ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEN, ONCE IT'S BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED, THE MAYOR CALLS FOR A VOTE AND THEN NO FURTHER DISCUSSION AFTER THE VOTE.
YOU DO HAVE A BRIEF OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF EXPLAIN YOUR VOTE IF DESIRED.
SO, GRANT. SO TECHNICALLY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MOTION THEN SECOND AND THEN DELIBERATE DISCUSS, AND THEN FROM THERE THE MAYOR WOULD TAKE A MOTION BASED ON THE DISCUSSION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL AFTER, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO ASK, TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE WAY WE TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION BEFOREHAND, BUT I KNOW THAT SO THEY CAN TALK TO FSU AND THEN WE MOTION AND EVERYONE DISCUSS BETWEEN EACH OTHER. THAT WOULD BE AFTER THE MOTION SO IT DOESN'T GO FROM MOTION.
SECOND TO VOTING IT GOES MOTION SECOND TO A CONVERSATION BETWEEN US.
CORRECT, AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE GENERAL PROCEDURE.
IF WE GO OUT, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIRST AND A SECOND, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS. RIGHT. I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE BEING ADOPTED PRIOR TO SOME OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A ROLL CALL VOTE, AND NOW SOME OF THESE COULD BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT.
ALL RIGHTY. SO MOVING ON TO 4.1 VOTING. IF THERE'S EVER AN INSTANCE TO WHERE YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE THE MEETING TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, BUT TYPICALLY IF SOMEONE ABSTAINS, IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE OF A LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND IF YOU HAVE A LEGAL CONFLICT, YOU'RE NOT COUNTED P RESENT FOR QUORUM PURPOSES.
PRINCETON HAS NOT ADOPTED A RULE ON SPECIFYING WHAT A NON LEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ABSTENTION IS.
SOME CITIES HAVE, IF YOU ABSTAIN FOR A NON LEGAL CONFLICT IT SHALL BE DEEMED A YES OR A NO.
SO JUST KIND OF A NO, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND.
LET'S SEE IF YOU HAVE A LEGAL CONFLICT, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF BRIEFLY STATE THE NATURE OF THE CONFLICT ON THE RECORD, AND THEN AFTER THAT, REFRAIN FROM DISCUSSING THE MATTER.
IT'S BEST PRACTICE TO OBVIOUSLY GET UP FROM THE DAIS AND LEAVE, BECAUSE EVEN KIND OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OR HAND GESTURES CAN KIND OF, YOU KNOW, INFLUENCE THE VOTE BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU JUST SIT THERE AND KIND OF MAINTAIN SILENT AND YOU CAN SAY AT THE DAIS AND QUESTION WITH THAT. SO IF THEY ABSTAIN ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO STATE THE REASON WHY THAT THEY'RE ABSTAINING.
SO OKAY. E SPECIALLY , SO FOR A LEGAL CONFLICT, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO STATE IT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE HAD ABSTENTION FOR A NON LEGAL CONFLICT.
I MEAN, BEST PRACTICE WOULD BE TO GIVE A REASON FOR THE ABSTENTION, NO MATTER WHAT, BUT AT A MINIMUM, FOR A LEGAL CONFLICT, WHAT WOULD BE A LEGAL CONFLICT? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO BE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 171.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST, WHETHER IT BE FAMILY, BUSINESS OR PROPERTY.
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OR IF A VOTE IS APPROPRIATE. SO YEAH, TYPICALLY IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS OR FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, THAT'S ONE WHERE IT'S BEST TO ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, JUST KIND OF REACH OUT AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW.OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL MOVE ON TO 5.1 WHICH IS THE GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A GENERAL PROCEDURE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED, AND IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
BECAUSE SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS WE DON'T HAVE AN APPLICANT.
SO THEREFORE SUBSECTION C THROUGH D ON YOUR HANDOUT WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE, BUT IN GENERAL, FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, A STAFF PRESENTS ITS REPORT AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF, AND THEN THE MAYOR OPENS UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ANNOUNCES THE TIME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND SPEAK.
THAT'S LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES UNLESS MAYOR EXTENDS YOU KNOW, FOR A MINUTE OR SO OR WHATEVER, IT'S UP TO YOUR DISCRETION. LET'S SEE, AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
ANNOUNCING THE TIME, AND THEN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND THE CITY COUNCIL DELIBERATES ON THE ISSUE AND THEN AFTER DELIBERATION IS COMPLETE, UNLESS THERE'S NO NEW ISSUES RAISED. IF THERE ARE NEW ISSUES RAISED, IT'S BEST PRACTICE TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COUNCIL. ASSUMING THERE'S NO NEW ISSUES RAISED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
THEN COUNCIL DELIBERATES AND TAKES ACTION, AND THEN THE MAYOR ANNOUNCES THE FINAL DECISION.
TYPICALLY WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE OUR PRESENTATION.
ARE WE TYPICALLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE PRESENTATION BEFORE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN THEY I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE EASIER BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT UNTIL THE PRESENTATION HAPPENS. I WOULD AGREE.
SO IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, A LEGAL ISSUE PER SE, AS LONG AS WE ULTIMATELY HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND CLOSE IT, BUT I WOULD SAY BEST PRACTICE WOULD BE TO HAVE ANY PRESENT STAFF PRESENTATION OR CONSULTANT PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE IT IT HELPS ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SECTION 4.10, PLEASE? ITEM C. YES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS. SO IF I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING FOR A PARTICULAR ITEM, I NEED TO EXIT THE CHAMBER. SO I CANNOT BE PRESENT FOR THE DISCUSSION, AND , AND ALSO, DO I COME BACK FOR THE VOTE OR NO? NO, I WOULD JUST WAIT UNTIL THE ITEMS YOU KNOW, VOTED, PASSED OR TURNED DOWN AND THEN COME BACK FOR THE NEXT ITEM, BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, YOU CAN KIND OF SIT THERE AND A NOT SPEAK OBVIOUSLY, BUT BE NOT, YOU KNOW, MAKE HAND GESTURES OR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, THEN IT'S OKAY TO STAY IN YOUR SEAT BUT IT'S RECOMMENDED TO OBVIOUSLY VACATE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
OKAY, AND THEN IF I AM GOING TO VOTE. NO, BECAUSE I HAVE A CONFLICT OR WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEGAL, WHAT WAS THE TERM THAT YOU USED? A LEGAL? YEAH, JUST A LEGAL CONFLICT. A LEGAL CONFLICT.
I CAN BE PRESENT FOR THE DELIBERATION, BUT NOT, BUT DO NOT VOTE, BUT ABSTAIN? YOU CAN BE PRESENT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ENGAGE IN DELIBERATION OR, YOU KNOW, ANY WAY, INFLUENCE THE VOTE.
OKAY. LIKE I SAID, RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICE IS TO VACATE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH, AND DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHICH I'LL ADVISE, THERE ARE CERTAIN YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT AN AFFIDAVIT OR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, AND I CAN HELP PROVIDE THOSE FORMS. THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
NOT NECESSARILY A CITY POLICY. IT'S A STATE LAW.
SO I THINK YOU KIND OF ALLUDED 4.10 B SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A FORM.
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YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, CLOSE FAMILY TIE, IT'S DEFINED IN STATUTE, SO I CAN KIND OF HELP IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS. CLOSE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP OR IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW IT'S A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT YOU'RE EMPLOYED BY OR YOU RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S 10% OF YOUR INCOME FROM THE BUSINESS ENTITY OR YOU OWN YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY.YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT WHAT'S CALLED. IT'S AN AFFIDAVIT, AND I HAVE ONE OF THOSE, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO FILL IT OUT BEFORE THE MEETING AND GIVE IT TO MYSELF AND AMBER, AND THEN FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
176 CONFLICT. THERE'S A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, AND THAT'S IT'S JUST STATE LAW.
IT'S A FORM THAT THE STATE HAS CRAFTED. OKAY.
THEN THE OTHER ONE, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A PUBLIC APPEARANCE.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE COME FOR PUBLIC APPEARANCE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
I LOVE IT, BUT SOMETIMES THEY WILL MAKE GENERALIZED STATEMENTS THAT ARE FALSE.
SO DOES COUNCIL HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUESTION THEIR STATEMENTS? LET'S SAY THEY THEY SAY CITY COUNCIL IS PROHIBITING THIS FROM BEING DONE, WHEN IN FACT, LET'S SAY I HAVE NEVER PROHIBITED IT. SO CAN I CALL THEM OUT AND SAY YOU NEED TO BE SPECIFIC ON WHO CALLED OR, YOU KNOW, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU KNOW, PUBLIC APPEARANCE ISN'T A TIME TO ENGAGE IN LIKE A BACK AND FORTH DELIBERATION, REALLY BUT YOU KNOW, IF IT'S , IF YOU NEED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION, WHETHER IT'S FACTS OR CITE TO EXISTING POLICY OR YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO GET CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP OR GET MORE INFORMATION, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU CAN CAN DO OR ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT INTENDED TO BE A BACK AND FORTH DELIBERATION.
JUST FOR NOTICE. SO AS WE AS JUST TO FOLLOW UP TO THAT, TO WHAT BEN JUST SAID, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC APPEARANCE, IT SAYS THAT THE COUNCIL IS UNABLE TO RESPOND OR TO DISCUSS ANY ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP DURING THIS PORTION THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, OTHER THAN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OF SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A SPEAKER'S INQUIRY, OR TO RECITE EXISTING POLICY IN RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY.
SO UNLESS WE STATING SOMETHING FACTUAL UNLESS WE ARE CITING A POLICY.
SO IT HAS TO BE FACTUAL. IT HAS TO BE POLICY IN ORDER FOR US TO ENGAGE.
AFTER SOMEONE PUBLICLY PRESENTS. YES. I MEAN, I THINK THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THAT IS IF YOU NEED TO ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE SAYING OR WHAT THEY WERE ASKING, IF YOU WANTED TO GET SOME, YOU KNOW, A QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION, WHICH PROPERTY YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WHICH STREET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. CLARIFICATION. TYPICALLY YOU KNOW, IT'S TO STATE FACTS OR POLICY AND IT'S I ALWAYS ADVISE NOT UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BRING UP ITEMS THAT AREN'T ON THE AGENDA.
SO UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY, YOU DON'T WANT TO RESPOND AND GIVE A FACT UNTIL YOU'VE MAYBE CLARIFIED WITH STAFF OR WHATEVER, BUT SOME, SOME THINGS, YOU KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD AND IT'S OKAY TO PROVIDE FACTS OR POLICY, BUT IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BE A DELIBERATION OR A PUBLIC HEARING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
PERFECT. AWESOME. I LOVE THE QUESTIONS. LET'S SEE.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. SO WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
JUST KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
THESE ARE MENTIONED IN SECTION 2.5 OF THE BYLAWS, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO GIVE A KIND OF WHAT THE BYLAWS PROVIDE, BUT ALSO JUST TO STATE STATE LAW OVERVIEW OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
SO CITY COUNCIL MAY MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING ANY REGULAR OR SPECIAL MEETING, OR ANYTIME OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW TO CONSIDER HERE ANY MATTER THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW TO BE HEARD OR CONSIDERED.
SO THE SIX WHAT IS THAT, SIX SUBCHAPTERS OR SECTIONS THAT I HAVE UP THERE, THE MOST COMMON THAT YOU'LL SEE CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY REAL PROPERTY, PROSPECTIVE GIFT, PERSONNEL, SECURITY DEVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, AND THESE ARE EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED AND GOVERNED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE REASON WHY SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE NOT DISCUSSED OUT IN THE OPEN COULD BE HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE CITY'S NEGOTIATIONS, WHETHER IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATION OR ACQUIRING REAL PROPERTY OR LEASING REAL PROPERTY AND THEN ALSO, WE DON'T WANT TO WAIVE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE IF WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT A PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS,
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ETC.. SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.IT HAS TO BE UNDER ONE OF THOSE, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN THIS.
THIS IS JUST THE MOST COMMON. HAS TO BE PURSUANT TO ONE OF THOSE AUTHORIZED PROVISIONS THE NEXT BULLET POINT COUNCIL MAY INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ANY PERSON OR PERSONS AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS LAW.
SO BY LAW, ONLY THE GOVERNING BODY, WHICH IS CITY COUNCIL, HAS A RIGHT TO ATTEND EXECUTIVE SESSION, WITH THE ONLY CAVEAT BEING THAT TYPICALLY YOU GUYS HAVE TO HAVE ME BACK THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY TO CONSULT WITH.
SO TYPICALLY MY ADVICE IF ASKED, IS INCLUDE ANY PERSON BACK THERE WHOSE PARTICIPATION IS NECESSARY .
RIGHT. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYONE. YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYONE BACK THERE THAT'S ADVERSE TO YOUR POSITION, BUT THAT'S THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENT IS ONLY THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BE BACK THERE.
PLUS ME. SOMETIMES Y'ALL CAN'T AVOID ME. SO WHAT CAN YOU GIVE US A SCENARIO OF WHEN WE WOULD NOT WANT YOU BACK? IN SESSION? I MEAN, IT COULD BE A PERSONNEL MATTER, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE PERSONNEL MATTERS.
THERE'S LEGAL COMPONENTS. SO, I MEAN, IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT AN ATTORNEY BACK THERE, HONESTLY, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE KIND OF COMPLYING WITH I KNOW WE HAVE AMBER BACK THERE AND SHE HAS A CERTIFIED AGENDA, BUT WE'RE JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH ALL PROVISIONS, AND NOT STAYING OFF TOPIC, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE TO BE BACK THERE.
THE REST OF THEM, I. I DON'T HAVE TO BE BACK THERE, BUT IT'S 99% OF THE TIME.
IT HAS TO DO WITH SOME LEGAL ADVICE. WHETHER IT'S REAL PROPERTY, PERSONNEL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU WOULD WANT AN ATTORNEY BACK THERE.
ALL RIGHT. SO THIS LAST BULLET POINT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
COUNCILMEMBERS SHALL NOT REVEAL THE NATURE OF DISCUSSIONS FROM AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ANY PERSON IN ATTENDANCE, NOT JUST COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ANYONE THAT WE PERMIT BACK THERE DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION, SHALL NOT RECORD OR DISTRIBUTE TO ANY THIRD PERSON INFORMATION DISCUSSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION. THERE ARE THERE ACTUALLY ARE PENALTIES INVOLVED.
YOU CAN GET POTENTIAL FINE AND AND OR CONFINEMENT.
IT IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR. I ALWAYS HAVE TO SAY THIS.
IT'S A FINE OF UP TO $2,000 AND CONFINEMENT OF UP TO 180 DAYS.
SO THAT IS PROVIDED UNDER STATE LAW. SO JUST AS A REMINDER, WHATEVER SAID BACK THERE.
KEEP IT BACK THERE, AND WHEN YOU SAY REVEAL THE NATURE, THAT'S JUST JUST TOPIC ITSELF.
SURE. SO YOU CAN MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. MOVING ON. THIS IS THE LAST, LAST SLIDE.
OKAY. SO COUNCIL LIAISON POLICY THIS IS ACTUALLY WAS ADDED IN JULY OF 2024.
THIS WAS ADDED AS NEW SECTION 1.8 TO THE BYLAWS.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE APPOINTED NEW LIAISONS, AND I HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THIS.
I FIGURED IT'D BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT UP. SO THE PURPOSE OF LIAISON POLICY WAS TO ESTABLISH THE TIMELY AND ORDERLY EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CITY.
IT'S THE APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE, AND I THINK EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS HAS A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION, THE APPOINTMENT COUNCIL LIAISON POLICY FOR FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
YOU'RE NOT AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE BOARD. COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE, IT'S RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND REFRAIN FROM USING POSITION TO UNDULY INFLUENCE DELIBERATIONS OR OUTCOMES OF PROCEEDINGS.
SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND JUST KIND OF HELP FACILITATE COMMUNICATION.
I THINK THAT WAS THE PURPOSE, ONCE AGAIN, FOR HAVING THE POLICY WAS TO HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE BOARDS AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND OF HELP MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND MARCHING TO THE SAME, SAME TUNE. SO ATTENDANCE AT ALL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE IS NOT REQUIRED, BUT STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BOARD, COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION AND THEN JUST STAY CURRENT AND PROVIDE,
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" A REGULAR REPORT" TO CITY COUNCIL THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.YEAH, I'LL LET YOU GO FIRST I THINK I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.
SO UNDER 1.8 SECTION B, ONE THING YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE IN YOUR SLIDES, I WOULD LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON, IS THAT IT STATES WHEN STATING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS IT DOES STATE ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN, BUT NOT VOTE IN AT ALL. CAN YOU DEFINE PARTICIPATION? LET'S SEE. IT'S THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE SECOND PARAGRAPH.
I THINK THAT'S FAIR. I JUST I WOULD AVOID SAYING, YOU KNOW, ACT LIKE YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL OR IF, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL WILL DO THIS, IF YOU DO THAT OR KIND OF MAKE A REPRESENTATION THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL AND YOU'RE KIND OF ANTICIPATING HOW COUNCIL WOULD VOTE. SO I THINK PARTICIPATION IS AS LONG AS IT'S JUST IT SHOULD BE VERY LIMITED.
I KNOW SOMETIMES COUNCIL MEMBERS GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS TOO, BUT OBVIOUSLY ALL VOTING HAS TO TAKE PLACE OUT HERE. SO YEAH, I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
I NEED TO HAVE THAT REFINED A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, BECAUSE WHEN I GO TO THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETINGS, SOMETIMES I WILL CHIME IN, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE DISCUSSING, IF IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING COUNCIL DISCUSSED, IF IT WAS TO REMIND THEM SOMETHING ABOUT A MEETING.
I WILL CHIME IN, BUT IS THAT THEN LIKE THE LIMIT OF MY PARTICIPATION? YEAH. THAT'S APPROPRIATE, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS IT'S REALLY TIMELY THAT WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TOO, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FIRST BYLAWS COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT. SO I'LL MAKE NOTE OF THAT, AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER TODD AND COUNCILMEMBER DAVID-GRAVES FOR BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE PARTICIPATE SHOULD BE PROBABLY DEFINED A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
NOW I WAS WONDERING, IS THERE A WAY THAT POTENTIALLY BEFORE I FORGET ABOUT THIS, BUT POTENTIALLY AT THE END OF OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS, THAT WE DO HAVE A SECTION WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE CDC BOARD OR EDC BOARD, KIND OF JUST HAVE THAT. SO ALL OF COUNCIL IS UP TO DATE AND NOT JUST GOING THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
SO YOU COULD HAVE EACH LIAISON KIND OF GIVE A REPORT TO COUNCIL ON WHAT YOU COULD ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRMEN OR CHAIRWOMEN. YEAH B ECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I ATTENDED THE LIBRARY BOARD, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME STUFF THEY WERE DISCUSSING THAT WE DON'T , THAT STILL HAVEN'T COME HERE YET. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME THAT WE CAN ALL GET UPDATES. YEAH, I LOVE IT. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, OR.
SO ON THAT SUBJECT 1.8 PARAGRAPH B, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH DOWN THERE, IT SAYS PROVIDE REGULAR REPORT TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE ON THE RESPECTIVE BOARD COMMITTEE OR, AND OR COMMISSIONS ACTIVITIES. SO WHO WOULD DESIGNEE BE IN THAT SITUATION? OH, IT JUST I GUESS IT VARIES ON THE ON THE BOARD.
IT COULD BE EDC, CDC, CEO OR IT COULD BE THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
IT JUST DEPENDS. I JUST PUT OR DESIGNEE ON THERE.
JUST LEGAL JARGON. I'M GUESSING HE CAN ASSIGN ANYBODY HE WANTS TO BE THAT PERSON WITHIN THE CITY. CORRECT. OKAY. I HAVE.
OH, I'M SORRY. CAN I SPEAK? SO IN REPORTING BACK MAYOR MENTIONED THAT WE COULD PROBABLY AT THE END AND YOU INDICATED THAT SOME CITIES ALSO WILL HAVE, LIKE, A REPORT. MOST OF US MEET WITH MR. MASHBURN ON A ONE ON ONE, AND I WAS WONDERING IF THAT COULD
[00:30:04]
BE THE FORUM THAT WE USE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES MEETINGS END LATE, AND TO EXTEND THAT TIME, I THINK WE DO HAVE ANOTHER WAY OF PROVIDING THE INFORMATION, UNLESS THAT INFORMATION IS CRITICAL TO THE MEETING THAT OCCURRED.IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE HIDING ANYTHING, IT'S JUST THAT THE INFORMATION DOES GET PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC LATER, BUT I JUST THINK IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND IN CONSIDERATION OF PEOPLE BEING UP LATER, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER MEDIUM THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SAME REPORT, AND ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS KIND OF INTENTIONALLY LEFT VAGUE REGULAR REPORT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY MEETING NECESSARILY, BECAUSE SOME, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEETS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE LIBRARY BOARD, FOR INSTANCE. SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. JUST AS LONG AS IT'S A REGULAR REPORT, THAT'S WHAT THE POLICY SAYS, AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT WILL WORK. I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY MEETS WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
SO IT'LL BE HARD TO JUST GO THROUGH THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER AND NOT COME THROUGH HERE.
I MEAN, IF WE HAD THAT PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY WAS MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THEN THAT WOULD PROBABLY WORK, BUT I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL MEETS WITH HIM AS OFTEN AS SOME OF US DO.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT LISTED AS A BOARD UNDER THE MAIN THINGS, BUT IS THERE NOT A BOARD THAT MEETS WITH THE INNER DEPARTMENTS WITH LIKE, DEVELOPMENT AND SUCH TO GO FOR THAT CROSS COMMUNICATION PIECE? I FORGOT WHAT THE NAME OF IT IS. I WILL GOOGLE IT AND FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT THERE IS ONE.
IT'S NOT LISTED. I KNOW IT'S MADE OF STAFF MEMBERS, BUT WOULD THAT NOT QUALIFY AS ONE WHERE LIAISON IS NEEDED? SO I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ORIGIN OF THAT BOARD BECAUSE I'M NOT IT'S NOT CREATED BY CHARTER AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CREATED BY COUNCIL.
I THINK THIS POLICY APPLIES TO ALL CHARTER OR COUNCIL CREATED BOARDS, COMMITTEES OR COMMISSIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS THIS POLICY LIAISON POLICY DOESN'T REQUIRE IT TO BE A LIAISON TO BE APPOINTED TO EVERY BOARD.
IT'S JUST THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE A LIAISON TO ANY BOARD.
I THINK YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE EDC, CDC, P&Z AND ALSO LIBRARY.
YEAH. OKAY. MY OTHER QUESTION IS CAN YOU CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND THE RESOLUTION? BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, TOMORROW'S MEETING WILL BE DOING THE RESOLUTION FOR THE ETHICS AND SUCH AND SUCH, BUT WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON A DRESS CODE, AND SO CAN YOU CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? YEAH. TYPICALLY AN ORDINANCE IS WHEN IT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
RIGHT. THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE.
A RESOLUTION IS MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ADOPT A TAX CODE, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO DO IT BY ORDINANCE UNLESS THE STATUTE SPECIFIES BY RESOLUTION, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S BY ORDINANCE.
SO AN ORDINANCE IS WHEN IT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW RESOLUTIONS, MORE OF A IT'S NOT EXPRESSLY REQUIRED BY STATUTE. THEY BOTH HOLD THE SAME WEIGHT AS FAR AS THEY'RE BOTH LOST.
YEAH, THEY'RE BOTH BOTH A REGULATION. YEAH. I THINK THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE ARE. GOOD TO GO. ALRIGHTY, THANK YOU ALL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GRANT. ALL RIGHT.
[D. DISCUSS AND REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS]
NO FORMAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DURING THE PRE MEETING, AS ANY FORMAL ACTION SHALL BE OCCURRED DURING THE MAIN MEETING.ANY ITEMS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS? IF NOT, THIS WILL TAKE US TO EXECUTIVE. ALL RIGHT.
[E. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TERMS OF CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING. SECTION 551.071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING SICILY LAGUNA LLC VERSUS CITY OF PRINCETON, TEXAS. ALSO SECTION 551.072 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE A GOVERNMENTAL BODY MAY CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY. PROPERTY LOCATED NORTH OF US 380, EAST OF NORTH BEAUCHAMP, SOUTH OF EAST MONTE CARLO BOULEVARD, AND WEST OF BOORMAN LANE.[00:35:01]
THE TIME IS 6:07 AND THIS WILL TAKE US INTO EXECUTIVE.ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS 6:48. THIS WILL TAKE US OUT OF EXECUTIVE, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I'LL SECOND. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.