[00:00:01]
>> GOOD EVENING. TODAY IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2025.
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:30 P.M, AND I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THE AD HOC COUNCIL BYLAW REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH IS TASKED WITH REVIEWING AND UPDATING THE CITY'S COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER, AND CODE OF ETHICS, WHICH ARE TOGETHER REFERRED TO AS THE BYLAWS.WITH THAT, I'LL PROCEED WITH ROLL CALL.
MS. TODD IS NOT HERE AS YET. MR. [INAUDIBLE].
>> PERFECT. WE DO HAVE QUORUM, AND WE'LL NOW PROCEED WITH INVOCATION, WHICH MS. GAMBLE WILL LEAD US, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, PLEASE GUIDE OUR DISCUSSION AND GRANT US WISDOM AND CLARITY AND OUR WORK TOGETHER.
ALTERNATIVELY, HELP US WITH WORKING TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND UNDERSTANDING IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> WE'LL PROCEED TO ITEM F WHICH IS PUBLIC APPEARANCE, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC APPEARANCE.
[G. CONSENT AGENDA]
WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.AS IT RELATES TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE COMMITTEE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS UNLESS A COMMITTEE MEMBER SAW REQUEST IN WHICH EVENT THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED IN ITS NORMAL SEQUENCE ON THE AGENDA.
AS IT RELATES TO CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE HERE G12025030, WHICH IS TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE FOLLOWING AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, WHICH IS THE AUGUST 7TH, 2025 AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM G12025-030, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 7TH, 2025.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE VOTE ON THAT.
>> SORRY. I'LL SECOND THAT AND WE'LL TAKE VOTE.
WITH THAT, WE'LL PROCEED TO REGULAR AGENDA ITEM,
[ H.1 2025-031 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 6 (“Addressing the City Council”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the August 7, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action.]
WHICH IS SECTION H HERE, AND WE'LL PROCEED WITH H12025-031, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 6, ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS BYLAWS AS DISCUSSED AT THE AUGUST 7TH, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.>> IF THERE'S NO CHANGES, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED SECTION 6.6 TO REFLECT JUST ONE SECTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ITEM A IN FRONT OF IT, BUT I ACCEPT THE CHANGES AS IS.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES AS IS.
[00:05:04]
>> WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 6.6.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO H22025-032,
[ H.2 2025-032 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 7 (“Council Relations Policy; Administrative Support”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the August 7, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action. ]
WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 7, COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS BYLAWS AS DISCUSSED AT THE AUGUST 7TH, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.WITH THAT HERE, WE HAVE SECTION 7.7.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON THIS ONE, THE LANGUAGE IN GREEN ON 7.7 C WAS APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING.
I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
THE ONLY CHANGE WOULD BE TO 7.7B AS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING.
>> MY QUESTION IS, IT STILL DOESN'T HAVE LANGUAGE THAT CLARIFIES WHAT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS.
LEAVING IT BROAD OPENS THE DOOR FOR, GOD FORBID, THE DAY THAT AMBER LEAVES US. PLEASE DON'T.
BUT SHOULD THAT DAY EVER COME, AND SOMEONE CAN JUST HAVE THEIR OWN OPINION OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PASS OUT.
I THINK OUR CITY REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK FORWARD AND PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE DAY THAT WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
>> I HAVE A PROPOSAL AS IT RELATES TO THAT SECTION, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS DISCUSSED PRIOR, AND WITH THIS HERE.
CONSIDERING THAT, I BELIEVE AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU MENTIONED THAT, I BELIEVE, COUNCIL MAY HAVE A NEED TO REVIEW DOCUMENTS.
YOU DID OUTLINE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE BUSY AND MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME TO COME IN PERSON IS THAT CORRECT, TO INSPECT DOCUMENTS?
>> WE ARE VOLUNTEERS OF THE CITY, SO WE HAVE DAY JOBS.
>> LOOKING AT THAT, I HAVE A PROPOSAL HERE THAT I'LL READ, AND WE CAN ADJUST OUR DISREGARD AS IS.
UPON REQUEST, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH COPIES OF RECORDS OR INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC OR HARD COPY FORMAT PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT DELAY, CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND THE PRACTICAL ABILITY OF STAFF TO FULFILL THE REQUEST.
IF THE REQUEST CANNOT BE FULFILLED PROMPTLY AND PRACTICALLY, THE REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL BE NOTIFIED PROMPTLY OF THE REASON FOR THE DELAY AND THE ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR FULFILLMENT.
I CONSIDERED AS WELL THE PENAL CODE AS IT RELATES TO THAT WHERE THEY MAY HAVE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE REASONABLE IF THERE'S A REQUEST TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IF THERE'S A MISUSE AS IT RELATES TO THAT.
IF ANYONE HAS OBJECTIONS OR AS IT RELATES TO THAT SECTION, I THINK YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THAT AND PROVIDES FOR TRANSPARENCY.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET A PRESENTATION DURING A WORK SESSION IN COUNCIL OUTLINING THE CITY'S PROCEDURES AND DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF DOCUMENTS TO CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST OF THE PEOPLE, THE INFORMATION REQUEST OF COUNCIL AND BOARDS AND ALL OF THAT VERSUS WHAT ISN'T ABLE TO BE GIVEN TO THEM DIRECTLY? BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT AN OFFICIAL WHO'S ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, WE'LL ENCOUNTER SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'LL ASK FOR A DOCUMENT PERTAINING TO THE CITY AND BE TOLD, WE CAN'T GIVE IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW, OR WE CAN'T SEND THIS TO YOU.
THAT GIVES ME GREAT PAUSE AND CONCERN WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND NOW THERE'S INFORMATION YOU'RE NOT PRIVY TO.
IF WE COULD HAVE A PRESENTATION AT COUNCIL AND A WORK SESSION OUTLINING THAT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE WHEN COUNCIL CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR THE CITY.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, TOO.
IT'S NOT THAT COUNCIL CAN'T HAVE ACCESS PER SE.
IT'S JUST THAT UNDER THIS PROCEDURE UNDER 7.7B, IT'S NOT DEEMED A PUBLIC RELEASE.
OBVIOUSLY, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN STILL GO THROUGH THE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY METHOD THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET DOCUMENTS.
[00:10:01]
THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL METHOD FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO OBTAIN RECORDS.IT'S JUST MAKING CLEAR THAT, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL OR PROTECTED LEGALLY OR IF IT RELATES TO PENDING OR CONTEMPLATE LITIGATION, ETC.
COUNCIL HAS EVERY RIGHT TO REVIEW IT, BUT IT'S NOT A PUBLIC RELEASE THAT CAN BE SHARED FROM COUNSEL TO OUTSIDERS.
>> BUT IT'S THE SAME THING IF I ASK FOR A DOCUMENT IN MY CAPACITY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND IT GETS E MAILED TO ME.
I CANNOT GO AROUND EMAILING THAT OUT OR PRINTING IT AND PASSING IT OUT TO EVERYONE BECAUSE OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE.
THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THROUGH PRIVILEGE.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT I SUPERSEDE EVEN THIS PENAL CODE IN THAT I CAN'T HAVE IT EMAILED TO ME.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S THIS PENAL CODE THAT SAYS YOU ARE NEVER TO PASS IT OUT, THERE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT STILL CAN'T BE GIVEN TO ME DESPITE HAVING THIS IN PLACE.
THAT'S THE CONCERNING PART, AND WITHOUT CLARITY OF WHAT THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE OR WHAT THAT PROCEDURE IS, AGAIN, AMBER WINS THE LOTTERY ONE DAY, AND WE GET SOMEONE ELSE, THEY COULD BE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T THINK THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS APPROPRIATE TO EMAIL YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO COME IN TO GET IT.
IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS DECISION ON THAT.
RIGHT NOW, IF I SEND SOMETHING IN AMBER IS PRETTY GREAT ABOUT GETTING TO ME, BUT THE DAY SHE'S NOT THERE, IT'S UP TO THAT NEW PERSON, AND THAT'S THE CONCERN I HAVE.
>> I THINK WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY MR. WRIGHT, MAYBE I KNOW MS. TODD YOU THE ONE THAT RAISE THE CONCERNS INITIALLY AT THE LAST MEETING.
I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT PATH, THAT DIRECTION I THINK MAYBE A STEP BETTER THAN WHAT WAS PROPOSED HERE, AND DEFINITELY A STEP BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY.
I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT PATH.
I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT THE PENAL CODE PROVISION THERE IS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT STILL SOMETIMES THE HARM OF RELEASING SOMETHING THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL.
THERE'S GREATER HARM TO THE CITY THAN WHAT A COUNCIL MEMBER MAY INDIVIDUALLY SUFFER UNDER THE PENAL CODE.
ONCE AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
IT'S JUST THE METHOD AND HOW THEY GET IT, WHETHER IT'S TO COME IN AND INSPECT IT, TAKE PICTURES, ETC.
I THINK THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU GAVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IF IT'S A EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IT'S PUBLIC, THAT'S RELEASED. I THINK IT'S JUST [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS DOESN'T LIKE A PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBER? WHAT IF THAT DAY COMES? AGAIN, NOT AMBER, BUT AGAIN, WHAT IF THAT DAY COMES, AND SO ONE PERSON WILL ASK FOR SOMETHING THAT'S COOL.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE THE WAY IT WAS WORDED. I DO LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MAYBE ON THE CITY SIDE, IF A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL COULD BE, HERE'S THE PROCEDURE.
THIS IS HOW AMBER DOES IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT THE RULE SO THAT SHOULD SHE WIN THE LOTTERY, LEAVE US, HER STANDARD OF HOW SHE DOES IT IS FOREVER GOING FORWARD, SO THAT IT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD, CONSISTENT, AND WE HEAR A LITTLE LEGACY, LEAVE US BEHIND OF HOW YOU DO THINGS, AMBER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING WELL IN OUR CITY ARE CEMENTED FOR THE FUTURE.
>> I'M HAPPY TO COORDINATE WITH CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND GIVE A PRESENTATION AT SOME POINT.
I KNOW WE DID MENTION TO AT THE LAST MEETING, GOING A STEP FURTHER THAN THE BYLAW AMENDMENT, BUT ALSO CREATING A POLICY TOO.
I THINK THAT AT THE TIME THAT POLICY IS CRAFTED, IT'D BE A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN DEPTH WITH COUNCIL.
JUST A SUGGESTION, MAYBE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT OR SENTENCE ON WHAT MR. WRIGHT PROPOSED WAS, MAYBE IF THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT, RIGHT? SO THAT WAY, IT'S NOT LEFT UP TO ONE PERSON'S JUDGMENT OF WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO BE RELEASED, YOU COULD GET AN OPINION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OF WHETHER IT'S CONFIDENTIAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I LIKE THAT BECAUSE IF WE SAY NO TO A RESIDENT, IT HAS TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
IF YOU SAY NO TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, IT GOES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN RULE ON THAT.
[00:15:02]
I LIKE THAT A LOT.>> I THINK FOR CLARIFICATION TOO, IT'S NOT NO, YOU CAN'T SEE IT, IT'S NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T LEAVE THE BUILDING.
IT'S NOT LIKE NO, YOU CAN'T SEE IT, IT'S MAKING SURE IT DOESN'T LEAVE OUR HANDS.
I THINK THAT MAYBE WE COULD ADD SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE TO MAYBE MR. WRIGHT'S SUGGESTION.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH HERE.
>> I'M NOT SURE, DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A SITUATION WHERE YOU REQUESTED DOCUMENTS AND IT LIKE, GOT TO DIED? BECAUSE I'M THINKING LIKE IN THE LINE OF SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S LIKE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
IF THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, SOMETHING IS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, THEN IT MAY NOT BE DISCLOSED, AND I LIKE THE POINT WHICH I WAS GOING TO MENTION IS TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY DECIDE.
IF YOU DON'T STATE, FOR INSTANCE, YOU REQUEST A DOCUMENT AND THEY SAY, YOU CAN'T GET THIS, AND IT'S SOLELY IN THE DISCRETION, THEN I THINK IT SHOULD BE ESCALATED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DOCUMENT COULD BE RELEASED.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT AVENUE.
THEN IN THE PROPOSAL I HAVE, I TOOK OUT THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENT, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS DISCUSSED THE LAST TIME, IS EITHER YOU PROVIDE ELECTRONIC COPY OR A HARD COPY OF THE DOCUMENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE, CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE STILL SUBJECT TO THE TEXAS PENAL CODE AS IT RELATES TO THAT, AND I WOULD ASSUME THERE WILL BE A TRACK IN OF WHO GETS DOCUMENT AS IT RELATES TO THAT.
>> BUT THERE STILL HAS TO BE THE IN-PERSON BECAUSE IF THEY DEEM THAT SOMETHING CAN'T BE RELEASED, WE CAN'T HAVE PHYSICAL COPY PERIOD, SO WE HAVE TO COME IN PERSON TO INSPECT THE DOCUMENTS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I HAVE NOT HAD THIS SITUATION HAPPEN TO ME.
I JUST KNOW A COUNCIL MEMBER IN A NEIGHBORING CITY WHO HAS BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT OUR CITY FROM EVER HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT.
THAT'S ALL. I THINK THAT JUST ADDING TO BE THAT WHEN A DOCUMENT IS DEEMED TO NOT BE APPROPRIATE, THE MATTER WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FINAL DECISION OR FINAL OPINION.
>> UNLESS YOUR FURTHER DISCUSSION AS TO THAT SECTION, WHICH IS B, I'LL JUST MOTION AS IT RELATES TO INCLUDE THE SECTION THAT I PROPOSE.
THEN WHATEVER ADDITIONAL SECTION, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT TO PLACE SOMETHING IN THERE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW.
>> I'LL BRING THIS ONE BACK TO WITH THE NEW LANGUAGE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, MS. TODD LOOKING AT IT NOT FROM WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AS A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IT.
HOPEFULLY, THIS DOCUMENT LIVES ON FOR YEARS AND WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO BRING THIS UP AND WE'LL MAKE THOSE EDITS.
I JUST GET TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT PROCEDURE, IF WE JUST GET A MOTION IN A SECOND TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, AND I'LL BRING THEM BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> PERFECT. SO I'LL MOTION TO ADD THE PROPOSAL THAT I MENTIONED HERE TO SECTION 7.7 B. I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU THE COPY HERE.
>> WITH THE INCLUSION ATTORNEY GENERAL?
>> YES, WITH THE INCLUSION AS IT RELATES TO THE ATTORNEY, THEN WE CAN REVIEW IT AS WELL AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE VOTE ON SECTION 7.7 B.
>> I JUST WANT TO STRESS, AMBER, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
I PROMISE IT'S SOMETHING SOMEONE ELSE DID IN A NEIGHBORING CITY.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
[ H.3 2025-033 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 8 (“Administrative Procedures”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the August 7, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action. ]
>> WITH THAT, WE'LL PROCEED TO H.3 3025033, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, TO ARTICLE 8 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS BY LAWS AS DISCUSSED AT THE AUGUST 7, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE SECTION 8.1.
>> I WANTED TO ADD. I THINK THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD THE LAST MEETING WAS TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT OPEN SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I CHANGED THAT TO A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC MEETING.
[00:20:01]
I ALSO ADDED THE LANGUAGE AT THE VERY END OR AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE THEREAFTER.WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY DISCUSS THAT, BUT AS I WAS READING BACK THROUGH, IT GIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR WHATEVER REASON, IF THERE'S RUNOFF, ETC THAT JANUARY OF EVEN NUMBER OF YEARS, IT GIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO AMEND THE PROCEDURES.
BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY NOT AGREE WITH THAT LANGUAGE AND APPROVE IT WITH THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT ADDITION AT THE END.
>> BECAUSE WE HAD DISCUSSED SOME LANGUAGE ON THIS.
I KNOW IT SAYS AND OR STAFF, SPECIFYING HOW WITH THE LAW CHANGES, THAT IT'S NOT JUST HEY, WE'RE AT A MINIMUM, WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT IT'S WHEN LAWS CHANGE, THIS WILL BE UPDATED, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THAT IS THE EXPECTATION.
>> YEAH, WE CERTAINLY. AFTER REVISED BY LAWS AS NEEDED.
WE COULD ELABORATE AND SAY, FOR INSTANCE ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN LAWS THAT MAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THE AS NEEDED WOULD COVER IT.
I MEAN, IF THERE'S A LAW THAT'S PASSED AND OUR BYLAWS CONFLICT WITH THAT, WHETHER IT'S MYSELF OR STAFF OR COUNSEL, WHOEVER IDENTIFIES IT WILL MAKE THAT CHANGE.
I THINK IT'S COVERED UNDER THE AS NEEDED, BUT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HURT TO ELABORATE IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO DO.
>> AGAIN, I HAVE TO THINK OF DAYS IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT'S NOT.
IT'S LIKE THE THING YOU PUT IN THE MICROWAVE WHERE IT SAYS, DON'T TURN UPSIDE DOWN, BUT WHEN YOU TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, THAT'S WHEN YOU GET THE WARNING.
THAT'S WHAT I KEEP THINK ABOUT WHEN I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OUR FUTURE COULD END UP HAVING BEFORE US.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, IF LAWS ARE CHANGING, WE'RE KEEPING IT UP-TO-DATE BECAUSE AS IT IS, WE'RE DOING A REVIEW OF ORDINANCES, AND WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING UP.
WE HAVEN'T HAD STAFF, LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WORKING ON IT AND DOING THESE THINGS FOR US.
I DON'T WANT A SITUATION IN THE FUTURE WHERE WE HAVE STAFF AGAIN, WHO HAVE TO TAKE ON THAT BURDEN OF PEOPLE BEFORE THEM DID NOT UPDATE THE THINGS APPROPRIATELY AND NOW THEY'RE STUCK IN THAT SITUATION, AND NOW THEY'RE THE ONES HAVING TO PUT IN THE OVERTIME AND ALL THE STAFF WORKING WEEKENDS TO GET THOSE THINGS UP TO PAR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THE STANDARD.
THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THOUGHTS OR ANYTHING?
>> I THINK IT'S ALREADY STATED THERE.
I THINK IT'S JUST FOLKS NEED TO BE INFORMED.
FOR EXAMPLE, STAFF SHOULD KNOW THAT, HEY, THERE'S SECTION 8.1, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE PROPOSAL AS IT POINTS OUT TO REGULAR MEETING AGENDA AND MAKE THOSE PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S THERE. I THINK IT'S CLEAR.
THE POINT IS THAT YOU NEED TO INFORM FOLKS, YOU COULD HAVE A POLICY, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND WHAT THEY CAN DO.
>> I LIKE THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE CHANGING ALL THE THINGS AND UPDATING EVERYTHING.
MAYBE THEN ON THE STAFF SIDE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE THEIR HANDBOOK AND STUFF, AND AS THINGS ARE CHANGING, PERHAPS WE CAN INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, AS THEY NOTICE A LAW CHANGE OR SOMETHING, HEY, YOU CAN BRING THIS UP TO BE CORRECTED.
>> IS THERE A COMMITTEE FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS WELL?
>> THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR, I THINK.
>> ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THAT SECTION 8.1? IF NOT, I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION HERE.
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT AND WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 8.1.
MOTION CARRIES 5-0, AND WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO H.4 2025034,
[ H.4 2025-034 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 9 (“Rules of Ethics”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the August 7, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action. ]
WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 9, RULES OF ETHICS OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS, POLICY RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS BY LAWS AS DISCUSSED AT THE AUGUST 7, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.WITH THAT, WE HAVE SOME CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 9.1.
I KNOW WE HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION THE LAST MEETING AS IT PERTAINS TO
[00:25:02]
REVIEWING OTHER CITIES RULES OF ETHICS.BUT THESE ARE THE CHANGES FOR SECTION 9.1.
WE CAN PROPOSE ADDITION TO THIS SECTION HERE AS IT IS, AND THEN WE CAN PROCEED THROUGHOUT TO THE OTHER SECTION CONSIDERING THAT WE READ THROUGH THE OTHER RULES OF ETHICS FOR THE NEIGHBORING CITIES.
>> THIS WAS MY BEST STAB, BASED ON THAT I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE VIDEO AND BASED ON MY NOTES, SOME OF THE DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD THE LAST MEETING.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES THROUGHOUT HERE.
ESSENTIALLY, I TOOK OUT ANY OVERLY STATED COMMENTS, ADDED CLARITY IN AREAS, IMPROVED THE FLOW, READABILITY.
THEN IMPERTINENT PART, I ADDED THE REQUESTS, I THINK FROM MS. TODD.
IT'S ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN THAT SECTION JUST TO REITERATE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROVISION TOO.
I KNOW IT'S STATED ELSEWHERE IN THE RULES OF ETHICS, BUT JUST TO STATE THAT ONCE AGAIN.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MARKUP ON THIS SECTION, BUT ONCE AGAIN, JUST A STAB BASED ON THE DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST MEETING.
TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU NEED TO READ AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THIS ISN'T ADDRESSING THE PART OF THIS SECTION IN REGARDS TO HANDLING COMPLAINTS.
>> CORRECT. YEAH, THIS SECTION, THE 9.1 IS ALMOST JUST THE GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.
ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND ALL THAT STUFF WILL BE ADDRESSED IN OTHER SECTIONS.
THIS IS MORE OF A PURPOSE STATEMENT OR LIKE I SAID, A PROLOGUE, SO TO SPEAK.
ALL THE MEAT POTATOES ARE IN OTHER SECTIONS THAT I THINK WE TABLED THE LAST MEETING, SO WE'LL GET TO THAT AT THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> WOULD THIS BE A SPOT WHERE WE COULD INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SAY WE REQUIRE IT, BUT THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF COUNSEL TO ATTEND TRAINS SUCH AS TMLS, TO AT LEAST PUT IT THERE THAT WE WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE EDUCATED AND TRAINED ON SOME OF THE THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW, POOR AMBER.
I SEND HER LIKE 10 MILLION THINGS OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO LEARN AND BECOME BETTER AT.
BUT THEN I ATTEND THESE CLASSES AND NOBODY ELSE IS THERE, AND WHEN I COME BACK AND I'M TALKING ABOUT IT, PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING THESE TRAININGS.
I THINK IT'D BE WISE TO ENCOURAGE IT TO BE DONE.
>> I THINK WE COULD ADD ANOTHER BULLET POINT, MAYBE.
>> WE COULD ADD IT TO BULLET 0.1.
>> SURE. I WILL SAY WHEN WE GET TO IT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT AT 9.4 B, IT TALKS ABOUT ETHICS TRAINING FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS.
THAT IF YOU'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE MANED REQUIREMENTS FOR ETHICS TRAINING,
[00:30:03]
SHALL NOT REPRESENT THE CITY ON ANY ASSIGNMENTS, SUBCOMMITTEES, ETC AND SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS.BUT I THINK ONCE AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HURT TO INCLUDE IT IN THIS SECTION AS WELL.
>> TMLS ETHICS TRAINING IS A WEBINAR OR YOU CAN BE IN PERSON OR A WEBINAR.
I THINK ADDRESSING THAT THERE IS FINE.
BUT WHAT I HAD DRAFTED WAS THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE SPONSORED CONFERENCE OR TRAINING ANNUALLY TO REMAIN INFORMED ON ISSUES AFFECTING MUNICIPALITIES.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I HAD IS THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO MISSES A MEETING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BECOMING INFORMED OF DELIBERATIONS AND ACTIONS TAKEN IN THEIR ABSENCE.
FOR WORKSHOP SESSIONS, THE ABSENT MEMBER MUST OBTAIN THE INFORMATION PRESENTED PRIOR TO THE COUNCILOR'S FURTHER CONSIDERATION OR VOTE.
THAT WAY IT'S NOT ON CITY STAFF TO BE RESPONSIBLE OF MAKING SURE THOSE MATERIALS ARE THERE.
THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TO REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, CAN I GET THESE, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE VOTING ON IT UNLESS THEY HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THOSE THINGS AND ARE UPDATED.
IT'S JUST ONE THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO OFFSET FROM STAFF.
I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO BE DOING ALL THAT.
>> BY CHANCE, DID YOU PULL THAT LANGUAGE FROM ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I SENT OR WAS IT?
>> DO YOU MIND WHICH ONE WAS IT?
I WAS JUST PULLING THEM TOGETHER.
>> I KNOW, I REMEMBER READING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
I CAN FIND THAT LANGUAGE AND DRAFT SOMETHING SIMILAR.
>> FOR THESE, DO WE WANT THEM IN THE GENERAL SECTION OR CAN WE PUT THEM IN THE 9.3, BACK THERE? HAVE A CLEAR HEAD IN AT THAT REQUIREMENT, SIMILAR TO THE OTHERS, LIKE ACTING PUBLIC INTEREST, ETC, CONDUCT OF MEMBERS.
PROBABLY ADD A HEAD IN THERE THAT CONTINUE AS IT RELATES TO THOSE.
>> IT'S UP TO WHAT THE COMMITTEE FEELS IS BEST.
I PROBABLY TEND TO AGREE THAT, MIGHT BE BETTER SUITED FOR 9.3 JUST TO CONTINUE ON WITH THAT SOME OF THOSE, EMPHASIZE BOLD HEADINGS.
>> I THINK 9.1 IS JUST THE GENERAL INTRODUCTION, AND THEN YOU JUST GET GRANULAR, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
JUST LIKE A BOOK, INTRO AND THEN YOU GET TO THE SUBJECT.
>> WHAT WE COULD DO IS UNDER THAT FIRST BULLET POINT IN 9.1, ADD JUST A GENERAL REFERENCE TO TRAINING AND BEING PREPARED.
DO WHAT MISS TODD WAS MENTIONING.
THEN IN 9.3, WE CAN ELABORATE, EXPAND UPON A LITTLE BIT MORE. JUST A SUGGESTION.
>> IS THIS ALSO WHERE WE CAN PUT IN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER? BECAUSE I KNOW WE DON'T A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THEY FOLLOW IT.
WE MAJ PAGE, WOULD THIS DOCUMENT BE WHERE WE CAN DICTATE THAT WE DO FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES?
>> I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION IN THE BYLAWS THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR PROCEDURAL ITEMS. WHAT WE CAN DO IS ONCE WE GET THROUGH EACH ARTICLE, I KNOW WE'RE ON THE LAST ARTICLE HERE TONIGHT, WHEN WE GO BACK.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME OUTSTANDING SUGGESTIONS TOO.
WHEN WE GO TO THAT PARTICULAR SECTION, WE CAN DISCUSS ROBERT'S RULE.
I KNOW TO YOUR POINT, A LOT OF CITIES ADOPT IT, AND WHAT SOME CITIES DO IS THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCEDURE AND WHERE THEIR LOCAL PROCEDURE DOESN'T ADDRESS SOMETHING, THE FALLBACK IS ROBERT'S RULES.
WE CAN MAYBE DISCUSS THAT IN GREATER DETAIL.
WHEN WE DO MAYBE THE CONFERENCE AND REVIEW AT THE END.
I WOULD PROBABLY SUGGEST NOT HAVING IT IN THIS SECTION.
>> MAYBE I NEED TO INFORM MYSELF MORE OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO BECOME A COUNCIL MEMBER.
BECAUSE ISN'T THERE CRITERIA FOR THEM TO BECOME A COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> WE JUST HAVE TO BE RESIDENTS IN A CERTAIN AGE. PRETTY MUCH, YES.
>> YEAH. THERE'S QUALIFICATIONS,
[00:35:02]
AND THEY'RE SPELLED OUT IN THE CHARTER AND ALSO STATE LAWS.>> MAYBE THEY NEED THEIR MANUAL FOR PARTICIPATION CRITERIA IS SET.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
BUT IT JUST KEEPS THEM ABREAST OF THE UPCOMING LAWS.
THE NEW LAWS THAT CHANGE THE CR THAT'S COMING DOWN FROM JUST THE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT IS ROLLING OUT.
>> THAT IS THIS DOCUMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRAINING.
LIKE THERE'S ONE FROM THE STATE, IN A SENSE.
BUT IT'S NOT CATERED TO THIS IS WHAT OUR CITY HAS US DOING.
THAT ONE IS MORE OF LIKE, HEY, HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO, STATE LAWS.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PROCEDURAL GUIDE OR HANDBOOK OR ANYTHING FOR COUNCIL OR REALLY I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE CDC OR EDC, MAYBE BOTH, IS THE ONLY BOARD THAT ACTUALLY HAS CREATED A DOCUMENT LIKE THAT? I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE OTHER BOARDS EVEN HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THIS TIME.
I THINK THAT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA TO HAVE.
>> I THINK THAT'S WELL STATED.
THERE'S A FEW STATE LAW TRAININGS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TAKING OFFICE, MAINLY OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.
BUT TYPICALLY, WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER COMES ON, CITY ATTORNEY WILL DO A ONBOARDING ORIENTATION TO CAN GO OVER THAT AND SOME LOCAL RULES, JUST SOME BEST PRACTICES, THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
BUT WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AND WITH STAFF TO EXPAND UPON AND MAKE THE ORIENTATION PACKET AND MANUAL A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH.
THAT'S AN AREA THAT I KNOW STAFF IS WORKING ON.
THEY'RE SWAMPED WITH MANY THINGS.
>> I JUST THINK THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERWHELM THE BYLAWS WITH RAMMING EVERYTHING INTO THE BYLAWS VERSUS HAVING AN ORIENTATION ONBOARDING FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HAVING SOME STIPULATIONS, PARTICIPATORY REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT MIGHT BE A FUTURE COMMITTEE.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE? BECAUSE AGAIN, STAFF HAS TAKEN ON A LOT BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH UP FOR YEARS BEFORE THEM.
WOULD IT BE I GUESS IT'S A QUESTION FOR OUR MAYOR, BUT I THINK YOUR IDEA OF, IS THERE A BOARD OR SOMETHING FOR PROCEDURES, IF WE DID ESTABLISH ONE, THEY COULD DRAFT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST GIVEN TO THE CITY STAFF AND CITY STAFF CAN GO FROM THERE TO FINALIZE IT? IT LIFTS A HUGE BURDEN OF THAT WORK OFF OF THEM AS I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE IF IT'S A PROCEDURE THING, IT FALLS ON AMBER, AND SHE DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE THINGS.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CREATE SOMETHING, AND I THINK THE PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING TO SAYING WHAT THE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES ARE FOR THEIR LEADERS, WHETHER THEY'RE APPOINTED OR ELECTED.
IF THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF THAT BURDEN FROM STAFF, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
>> I ALSO THINK THAT IT ADDS IF YOU WANT MORE POSITIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT PARTICIPATORY, BEING TRAINED, STAYING ABREAST OF ALL THE NEW LAWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THE COMMUNITY TO BUY INTO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF PRINCETON?
>> THESE ARE ALL GREAT SUGGESTIONS.
I THINK MAYBE MENTIONING IT TO THE MAYOR WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA AND FIGURE OUT A TIME AND PUT IT IN THE QUEUE A TIME AND PLACE TO DO IT.
>> YOU HAD ASKED EARLIER ABOUT THE TWO SUGGESTIONS THERE IN THE MCKINNEY.
THE ONE ABOUT THE WORKSHOP IN THE ABSENCE.
>> I FIGURED IT WAS 264. PERFECT.
>> THEN I'M JUST GOING TO PASS THESE TO YOU BEFORE I FORGET.
SINCE WE'RE NOT GOING OVER THIS ONE ABOUT A COMPLAINT PROCEDURE.
I CREATED A PRETTY CHART THAT COMPARES THE DIFFERENT CITIES YOU SENT US AND THEN HERE'S THIS SO YOU CAN PLAY WITH IT.
>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, BUT WHEN WE GET TO ITEM H5, WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF CHAPTER NINE, AND WE CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE THEN.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT FOR SECTION 9.1, IF NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES OR SUGGESTIONS HERE,
[00:40:01]
I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION SO WE CAN PROCEED TO THE OTHER SECTIONS.>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MAKE THE CHANGES ON 9.1 THAT MISS TODD HAD SUGGESTED THAT ARE MIRRORING MCKINNEY.
BY LAW, SECTION 2.2 64B2 AND THREE.
>> GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT MOTION, AND I'LL TAKE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES 5/0. WITH THAT,
[ H.5 2025-035 Review Article 9 (“Rules of Ethics”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws); consider any recommendations for amendments thereto; and take appropriate action. ]
WE'LL PROCEED TO H 0.52 025035, WHICH IS TO REVIEW ARTICLE 9 RULES OF ETHICS OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY RULES OF ADER AND CODE OF ETHICS BY LAWS, CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDMENTS TO AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.THAT'S PERTAINING TO SECTION 9.2 AND THE OTHER SECTIONS THEREIN.
I THINK READING THE DOCUMENTS FROM OTHER CITIES, MY RECOMMENDATION HERE FOR THE RULES OF ETHICS FOR PRINCETON IS TO ADD A COMPLAINT PROCESS THAT'S CLEARLY OUTLINED.
I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT IN THE OTHERS, BUT IT'S NOT SO CLEAR HERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A SANCTION SECTION, BUT WHAT'S THE COMPLAINT PROCESS?
>> I ALSO WANT TO SUGGEST BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THIS DOCUMENT WE'RE WORKING ON IS A RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTIONS ARE MORE OF A SUGGESTION, ORDINANCES ARE, THIS IS THE LAW.
YOU'RE STILL SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW YOUR RESOLUTIONS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT LAW.
EVERY SINGLE CITY THAT WE ARE GIVEN EXAMPLES OF HAS IT THIS PART AS AN ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES THAT GO WITH IT THAT CAN BE ENFORCED.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER BRANCHING OFF THIS PART, THE GOVERNING BODY CODE AND TAKING IT OUT OF THE BYLAWS AND CREATING AN ORDINANCE.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE BIG LEAGUES NOW.
WE'RE NOT A LITTLE CITY ANYMORE, AND OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE THAT STANDARD.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD FOLLOW IN THAT AND HAVE THAT SAME STANDARD HERE.
>> TO YOUR POINT, I THINK A LOT OF CITIES, A LOT OF LARGER CITIES HAVE THEIR RULES OF ETHICS, IT'S CODIFIED IN THEIR CODE OF ORDINANCES.
REASON BEING IS BECAUSE IT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS A COPY OF THE BY LAWS ARE NOT AS ACCESSIBLE.
HAVING IT CODIFIED IN THE CODE DOES EXACTLY THAT.
WHETHER IT'S, THESE BY LAWS WERE DULY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. THEY'RE STILL APPLICABLE.
THEY STILL GOVERN. BUT I THINK HAVING IT IN THE CODE WOULD MAKE THE CODE OF ORDINANCES WOULD BE LIKE I SAID, INCREASED TRANSPARENCY ACCESSIBILITY, BUT ALSO MAKE IT EVEN MORE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT IT APPLIES TO ALL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, ETC.
THIS DOES, BUT WITH ALL THE BOARDS HAVING THEIR OWN BY LAWS, IT'S PIECEMEAL A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK, LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVE IT CODIFIED IN THEIR CODE OF ORDINANCES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO DO THAT, WE CAN MAYBE MAKE A REFERENCE TO THAT IN THE BYLAWS, OR WE COULD PROCEED WITH MAYBE HAVING A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PROCESS, THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE, ETC WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THEN GO INTO GO INTO DETAIL WHAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND CODIFY THERE.
THAT JUST THROW OUT SOME SUGGESTIONS.
>> THEY HAVE MORE THAN JUST THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE, LIKE THIS SECTION OF 9.3 A LOT OF THIS IS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THESE ARE THE PARTS THAT ARE IN THOSE ORDINANCES.
A PART OF ME FEELS LIKE IT'S GREAT.
BUT MAYBE AT THIS POINT, WE CAN PUT THE GOVERNING BODY CODE OF ETHICS THAT LITTLE BLURB AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN PUT THAT WE COMPLY WITH CITY ORDINANCE, AND THEN TAKE THIS AND I'M NOT SAYING LIKE OFFSET IT COMPLETELY.
I THINK IF WE CAN PUT TOGETHER AN ORDINANCE, BRING IT BACK TO HERE, THE AD HOC, WE DISCUSS THAT ORDINANCE, HELP FORM IT, AND THEN WE CAN PRESENT IT TO THE MAYOR AND STUFF SO IT CAN BE PUT ONTO THE AGENDA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BIG LEAGUES DO.
[00:45:02]
>> NO, I THINK MY SUGGESTION, IF WE GO THAT ROUTE, BECAUSE COUNCIL, WHEN THEY APPOINTED THIS COMMITTEE IT WAS TO LOOK OVER THE BYLAWS.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO IF THE DESIRE OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO GO THAT ROUTE AND REFERENCE, CODE OF ETHICS THAT'S CODIFIED IN THE ORDINANCES.
MAYBE WE GO TO COUNCIL AND MENTION THAT THE COMMITTEE THAT'S THE ROUTE THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND THEY GET BLESSING FROM COUNCIL TO GO DRAFT, PREPARE AN ORDINANCE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE INITIAL SCOPE OF JUST REVIEWING THESE BY LAWS.
THAT COULD BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE ONCE YOU FINALIZE IT, GOING TO COUNCIL AND SAYING, THIS IS THE BY LAWS THAT WE PROPOSE AND THEN MAYBE COUNCIL COULD GIVE DIRECTION, BLESSING TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE?
>> WELL, WE DON'T WANT TO FINALIZE THIS IF THEY'RE NOT DRAFTED.
>> CORRECT, WE WOULDN'T ADOPT IT YET.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS AT ALL TIMES, SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO ADOPT SOMETHING WE WOULDN'T WANT TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS FINALIZED.
BECAUSE ADOPT THIS WITHOUT SOMETHING.
>> THURSDAY. AMBER, DON'T HATE ME.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO PUT AN ADD INTO THE WORK SESSION FOR MONDAY'S MEETING TO SIMPLY BRING IT UP TO COUNCIL, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS THINKING ABOUT, JUST TO GET THEM THINKING.
IT'D BE AN AMENDMENT I'M ASKING HIM.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE MAYOR, STAFF OR ANYONE, BUT MY THOUGHT WOULD BE IS TO IF THAT'S THE ROUTE WE WANT TO GO PROPOSE THE CHANGES TO THE TEXT.
WE COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING AND THAT CAN BE PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND THEN WE BRING THE WHOLE BYLAWS TO COUNCIL IN PRESENT IT AND THEN GET DIRECTION. THIS LOOKS GREAT.
BUT BEFORE WE ADOPT IT, YES, I AGREE, YOU'LL GO PREPARE A CODE.
MAYBE WE COULD TEE IT UP FOR THE NEXT AGENDA, POTENTIALLY AS A WORK SESSION ITEM.
>> YOU GUYS ARE THE RESIDENTS AND WHATNOT.
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT HAVING THE CODE OF ETHICS WITHIN THE ORDINANCE? JUST AS GRANT SAID, IT'S THERE, IT'S EASIER TO ACCESS.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE BINDING WHEN IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR THE LAWS ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEY ARE HARDER TO FIND THAN THE MINI CODES ARE GOING TO MINI CODE.
SO I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ORDINANCE.
>> WELL, FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO FIND THIS ONLINE, JUST A QUICK SEARCH.
WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE DOCUMENT FROM MCKINNEY, RIGHT? NOW WE ARE MENTIONED IN DIFFERENT SECTION LIKE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
WE JUST HAVE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A RELATIONS POLICY RULES OF ADER AND CODE OF ETHICS.
AS IT RELATES TO THE SECTIONS OF MCKINNEY, I THINK THE CITY THAT SPEAKS TO JUST LIKE CODE OF ETHICS IS THE CITY OF ALLEN, WHICH IS SIX PAGES.
THE ONE FROM MCKINNEY IS TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALREADY COVERED, AND MAKE CHANGES TOO.
THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED THAT AS IT RELATES TO JUST THE CODE OF ETHICS.
AS IT RELATES TO THAT SECTION, FOR THE OTHER MATTERS, I THINK WE COVERED THEM, WE CAN GO BACK AT THE END TO SUGGEST ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO IT.
AS IT RELATES TO MAKING IT AN AUDIENCE OR OTHERWISE, I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THIS DOCUMENT FIRST, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE THE PROPOSAL AFTER AND THEN PROCEED FROM THERE.
BUT FOR ME, WHETHER IT'S A BYLAW OR OTHERWISE, I DON'T HAVE A DIFFERENCE AS LONG AS IT'S PUBLIC.
NOW, IF THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT PUBLIC, THEN I'LL HAVE AN ISSUE.
>> I CONCUR. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PRESENT THE UPDATES AND CHANGES FROM THE BYLAWS AND THEN MOVE FORWARD TO IF THEY WANT US TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE BABY STEPS.
>> I ALSO AGREE. I THINK WE SHOULD PRESENT THEM ONCE WE'RE FINISHED WITH EVERYTHING.
>> THEN FOR THE SECTION, WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH IT LIKE FROM SECTION 9.2, AND THEN WE CAN ADD CHANGES THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SECTION.
WE CAN THEN PROCEED TO 9.3, AND SO ON, AND THEN WE CAN INCORPORATE CHANGES.
WE CAN MOVE ALONG AND THEN AT THE END, WE CAN GO BACK AND REVIEW ONCE IT'S FINALIZED THE CHRISTINA'S POINT, WE CAN MAKE THAT PROPOSAL, WHICH I'M NOT AGAINST.
IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP.
[00:50:03]
AS IT RELATES TO THAT, WE CAN REVIEW 9.2 HERE, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE POLICY PURPOSE.>> ANY CHANGES TO 9.2, IT'S A VERY SMALL SECTION.
IT'S LIKE THE PURPOSE OF WHAT THE OTHER PUSHING IS.
AS MENTIONED PRIOR FOR 9.3, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SECTION, WHICH IS LIKE THE TOPIC IS BOLDED.
MY ONLY SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE A PROCESS AND IF FOLKS WANT TO BASED ON THE READING, PROPOSE, WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE.
I KNOW FOR THE OTHER CITIES LIKE IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT, THAT GOES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY OR OTHERWISE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND PROBABLY ADD LIKE WHAT'S THE TIMELINE AND THEN GRANT COULD DRAFT SOMETHING UP FOR US TO REVIEW AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> ONE PART OF THIS THAT I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT IS UNDER COMMUNICATION.
FOR THE ADJUNCTIVE MATTERS PENDING BEFORE THE BODY, MEMBER SHALL REFRAIN FROM RECEIVING INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING OR AGENDA MATERIALS, EXCEPT ON THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I FEEL LIKE THAT PUTS A WALL BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL.
IF A RESIDENT FINDS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED, THIS SAYS, COUNCIL, YOU CAN'T BE GETTING OUTSIDE INFORMATION ON SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED, AND IT COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT CAN CHANGE.
ACTUALLY, IT'S HAPPENED, GETTING THE HEADS UP, HEY, YOU SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT BECAUSE THE WALLS DON'T LOOK GREAT, AND WE DO, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
IT ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO TALK WITH COUNSEL AND ENCOURAGES US AS COUNSEL TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH THE PEOPLE, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAKES IT FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE.
>> THAT SECTION IS A LITTLE UNIQUE.
I WILL SAY, THE LAST SENTENCE SAYS THAT IF MEMBERS DO RECEIVE ANY OUTSIDE INFORMATION, THEY JUST NEED TO DISCLOSE IT TO THE BODY SO THAT THE BODY IS INFORMED.
IT TALKS ABOUT REFRAINING FROM RECEIVING, BUT THEN IT SAYS, IF YOU DO RECEIVE, JUST MAKE SURE THE REST OF THE BODY.
>> BUT AGAIN, IN THE FUTURE, IF IT SAYS REFRAIN FROM, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THEY'RE LIKE, NOPE CAN'T TALK TO YOU.
I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS.
THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A NEGATIVE DYNAMIC.
WE NEED TO KEEP IT AS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY.
YOU CAN COME TO US BECAUSE THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT THE MAYOR, AD I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY THINGS MAYOR ESCOBAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS SIMPLY BECAUSE RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO COME TO HIM ABOUT THINGS.
IT'S STUFF THAT WE DON'T SEE AT COUNCIL, STUFF HE IS DOING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MAKING SURE GETS DONE, AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I THINK WOULD CREATE A RESTRAINT ON THAT AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO HINDER THAT PROGRESS THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IN THAT CONNECTION WITH THE PEOPLE.
>> I THINK FOR THAT SECTION, WE CAN TURN IT INTO THE OPPOSITE CONSIDERING THE SECOND SENTENCE, PROBABLY LIKE MEMBERS MAY OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM WHEREVER, BUT ACCORDING TO THE SECOND SENTENCE IS THAT IF THEY DO RECEIVE SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION THEN THEY NEED TO INFORM THE DOORS.
>> I LIKE THAT. THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
>> CONSIDERING THAT YOU SAID DOWN THE LINE, PRINCETON WILL BE CREATING DISTRICTS SO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL REPRESENT A DISTRICT, AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO CONVERSE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT DISTRICT NEEDS.
THAT'S LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE, SO I AGREE.
>> WE JUST STRIKE SHALL REFRAIN FROM RECEIVING AND REPLACE IT WITH MAY RECEIVE.
[00:55:12]
>> I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A COMPLAINTS PARAGRAPH.
I KNOW THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT.
>> FOR THAT ONE, LET'S DO WE HAVE WELL, IT'S ONE SECTION, BECAUSE LET'S PROCEED WITH THE COMPLAINTS.
>> WELL, THE LANGUAGE I WOULD PROPOSE FOR A COMPLAINTS PARAGRAPH WOULD BE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THIS ARTICLE MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE CITY SECRETARY.
THE CITY SECRETARY SHALL FORWARD THE COMPLAINT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR REVIEW OF LEGAL SUFFICIENCY.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAY THEN CONSIDER THE COMPLAINT AT A NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING.
FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS DEFINED AS GROUNDLESS ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT IN BAD FAITH OR FOR HARASSMENT ARE PROHIBITED.
THIS MIRRORS WHAT MCKINNEY AND ALLEN HAVE, WHERE THEY BOTH ARE FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY.
THEN ALLEN HAS IT WHERE IT'S FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY AND THEN FORWARDED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND SO THEN WE MIRROR THEIR SYSTEM.
>> I LIKE THAT. I THINK WE COULD EXPAND A LITTLE FURTHER.
I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT, LIKE, ONCE A CITY ATTORNEY RECEIVES IT, WAS THERE A SECTION WHERE THEY'LL BRING IT IN FRONT OF THE COUNSEL? I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, BUT TO INFORM COUNSEL AND NOT JUST CITY SECRETARY SEND IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND JUST BAM, I'LL PROCEED WITH INVESTIGATION, BUT PROBABLY HAVE A SECTION THAT CLEARLY OUTLINES, LIKE BRING IT OR INFORM COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEN CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION, WHATEVER THE STEP IS THERE.
THEN BASED ON THE FINDINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHETHER IT'S MERITLESS OR OTHERWISE, IS THE INFORM COUNSEL OF THE DECISION.
AS IT RELATES TO THAT, I HAVE A PROPOSAL AFTER THE DECISION PROCESS, BUT I'LL HAVE YOU GUYS DISCUSS THAT BEFORE I PROPOSE MY ADDITION.
>> BECAUSE THIS PART WOULD IMPACT BOARDS, I WOULD WANT TO ADD THAT THE BOARD CHAIR AND CO CHAIRS WOULD ALSO BE INFORMED SHOULD IT RELATE TO THEIR BOARDS SO THAT WE'RE NOT BLIND SIDING ANYONE ON INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE BEING CONDUCTED.
>> IN THE ADDITION THERE IS THAT IF A COMPLAINT IS INVESTIGATED AND NO VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS IS FOUND, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL PROMPTLY DISCLOSE THAT THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED WITH NO FINDINGS OF MISCONDUCT.
IF THE INVESTIGATED PARTY REQUESTS PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND NO SUCH DISCLOSURE OCCURS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE REQUEST, THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE DEEMED FULLY CLEAR AND THE INVESTIGATION DEEMED TO HAVE FUND NO VIOLATION.
>> SORRY, I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THE PERSON BEING INVESTIGATED SHOULD ALSO BE INFORMED THAT IT'S HAPPENING, NOT AFTER THE FACT WHEN IT'S BEEN DONE.
THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
SPEAKING OF THAT TOO, IF THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION, AND IF, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK I WAS READING FOR SOME CITIES WHERE IT COULD GO ON REGULAR AGENDA.
IT COULD GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT REGULAR AGENDA ITEM, IF SO, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A PROVISION THAT PROVIDES FOR THE PERSON BEING INVESTIGATED, THEY COULD COME AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC AS IT RELATES TO THAT REGULAR MEETING OR DELIBERATION OF THE INVESTIGATION.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> I AGREE BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO'S SUBJECT TO AN INVESTIGATION, I THINK THEY THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO TALK AND SAY THEIR PART BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THIS GENERAL QUESTION.
OUT OF THE EXAMPLES I SENT, WAS THERE A MUNICIPALITIES THAT YOU LIKE THAT THE COMMITTEE LIKED BEST, SO I CAN TRY TO MODEL OFF BECAUSE I KNOW BEFORE I SENT THERE GENERALLY THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.
WAS THERE I KNOW WE'VE MENTIONED MCKINNEY, A COUPLE OF TIMES WE'VE MENTIONED ALLEN.
[01:00:02]
>> WELL, WE'LL START WITH THIS. SO WHO CAN FILE THE COMPLAINT.
IT'S ANYONE REQUIRED FORMS. ALL OF THEM AGREE THAT IT'S A WRITTEN SWORN NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT AND THAT IT REQUIRES THE DETAILS.
NONE OF THEM EXCEPT ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS.
THE FILING DEADLINES IS KIND OF WHERE WE SEE SOME VARIATION.
MCKINNEY HAS ONE YEAR OR 90 DAYS OF DISCOVERY.
DENTON IS SIX MONTHS OF AWARENESS WITH A MAXIMUM OF TWO YEARS.
>> I THINK LIKE ALLEN'S ONE, AND THEN YOU COULD MASSAGE IT BECAUSE IT CLEARLY OUTLINED PRETTY MUCH WHAT'S MENTIONED FIRST THE PROPOSAL, LIKE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE SUGGESTION THERE AND JUST TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT, WHICH IS SECTION 2.21.
>> WITH THE NO SPECIFIC DEADLINE, OR DO WE WANT TO HAVE A DEADLINE.
>> THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED WE CAN ADJUST TO HAVE THIS IS JUST LIKE A SKELETON, AND THEN WE CAN ADD WHAT WE PROPOSE TO IT.
>> YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DRAFTING ON THIS ONE, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M DRAFTING BASED ON THE INTENT OF THE COMMITTEE AND NOT JUST, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I AM GOING TO SAY WHAT I LIKE ABOUT DENTON IS THAT FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY PART, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL IT'S DISMISSED OR SET ON THE AGENDA, AND THEN IT BECOMES PUBLIC BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SMEAR SOMEONE'S REPUTATION AND START HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IT GOES EVERYWHERE.
IT NEEDS TO BE IN HOUSE, AND IF IT'S, AND THEN WHEN IT'S BEING DISMISSED OR IF IT'S GOING ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT SMEARS THE REPUTATION IF THEY JUST HEAR IT.
THEN YOU HAVE THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION WEIGHING IN.
>> I DO LIKE THE SECTION IN MCKINNEY.
SECTION 2.293 COUNSEL COMPLAINT REVIEW PROCEDURES.
SO I THINK ONCE IT'S BEEN MADE PUBLIC IN SECTION B, IT SAYS WITHIN 20 BUSINESS DAYS.
AFTER COUNSEL RECEIVES A PRELIMINARY REPORT, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND THERE'S SOME BULLET POINTS WHETHER IT'S DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS, DISMISSED BECAUSE SUBJECT CONDUCT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN GOOD FAITH.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO AS MR. WRIGHT HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EXONERATE THE PERSON IF THEY ARE CLEAR SO MAYBE LOOK AT THAT.
THAT WAS SECTION 2.293 IN MCKINNEY.
>> I THINK PRINCETON WILL HAVE THE PERFECT COMPLAINT PROCESS.
JUST PULL IT FROM THE DIFFERENT CITIES AND THEN MAKE YOUR OWN.
>> HEY, IF IT MAKES IT LESS WORK FOR GRANT, THAT'S BETTER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOME EXAMPLES, AND SO THAT WAY I COULD, IT WORKS FOR THESE OTHER CITIES, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO OFF THAT AND CUSTOMIZE IT TO PRINCETON.
>> THERE'S ONE SECTION HERE AS IT RELATES, MENTIONED BEFORE WE START THE SECTIONS HERE, THE BOLDED SECTIONS.
I BELIEVE IT MAKE REFERENCE TO I BELIEVE THE CITY SECRETARY AND ALL EMPLOYEES.
THIS POLICY REFERENCE TO CITY COUNCIL AND BOARDS.
WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHERS, AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER, WHICH IS THE STAFF PORTION COULD HAVE POLICIES AS IT RELATES TO THEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I ACTUALLY IN MY NOTES, MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THIS IS YEAH, IT'S APPLICABLE TO THE COUNCIL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
CITY STAFF, EMPLOYEES, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS AND EMPLOYEE MANUAL, ETC, SO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
>> I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT SOME PARTS IN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
CAN WE INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE DEFINING THE RELATION, LIKE HOW MCKINNEY HAS IT, STATING EVEN ROOMMATES, IT CAN CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE THIS IS STILL PRETTY BROAD, AND I THINK WE WANT TO NARROW IT DOWN SO IT'S NOT LIKE MY SISTER'S BROTHER IN LAW'S COUSIN OWNS A BUSINESS,
[01:05:06]
AND SOMEONE STARTS SAYING CONFLICT OF INTEREST.LET'S CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT THAT RELATION IS.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER PROPOSAL FOR 9.3 IN THE GIFTS AND FAVOR PARAGRAPH OR SECTION.
I SAY THAT WE REWRITE THAT WHOLE PARAGRAPH TO MEMBERS SHALL NOT SOLICIT OR ACCEPT GIFTS OR BENEFITS THAT WOULD REASONABLY INFLUENCE OR APPEAR TO INFLUENCE THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.
COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS PENAL CODE CHAPTER 36 AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTERS 171 AND 176 IS REQUIRED.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAY ADOPT STRICTER LIMITS BY ORDINANCE.
DENTON, ALLEN AND RICHARDSON ALL USE THE SAME REASONABLY INFLUENCED LANGUAGE SO I WOULD SAY WE COULD APPLY THE SAME THING.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS DON'T LIKE THE CHAPTER NUMBERS, SO YOU CAN JUST CHANGE THAT UP LATER.
I KNOW DENTON AND ALLEN ALSO HAVE DAUGHTER CAPS, THAT CAN BE ADOPTED LATER THROUGH THIS BY LAW.
>> I LIKE THAT. WE CAN TAP THAT INTO THE ORDINANCE WE WANT TO MAKE BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT WOULD TAKING GIFTS AND FAVORS AND STUFF WOULD LEAD INTO COMPLAINTS AND STUFF, AND THAT IS A POTENTIAL ONE THAT COULD COME UP, AND SO THAT COULD BE WHERE WE PUT IT INTO ORDINANCE AND DEFINE IF WE WANT TO PUT A MONETARY VALUE AND WHATNOT.
>> I WAS GOING TOSS THAT TOO WITH THE MONETARY VALUES.
DENTON HAS GOT, 50 PER GIFT, 200 ANNUALLY.
THE OTHER ALLEN'S GOT $50 OCCASIONAL ITEMS ARE ALLOWED, SO WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL, $1 LIMIT.
>> THEN FOR 9.3, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO ADD LIKE SECTIONS, MAYBE A, B, C, D, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> FOR UNDER THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, CAN WE JUST INCLUDE THAT LAB OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE SINCE IT GOES INTO THE OTHER PART?
>> YOUR ADVOCACY, CAN WE TWEAK THAT SO THAT IT ALSO UMBRELLAS ALL OF OUR BOARDS TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THEY ARE SPEAKING AND REPRESENTING, THEY'RE ALSO CLARIFYING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AS A RESIDENT? ARE THEY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR POSITION?
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT SECTION, WHAT WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER?
>> THE ONE THAT I JUST MENTIONED?
>> FOR ADVOCACY. IN HERE, IT TALKS ABOUT THAT THE MEMBER SHALL REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL POLICIES OR POSITIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR IT DOES SAY OR BOARD TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
IT JUST DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY STATE I KNOW.
THE BEGINNING LANGUAGE OF IT IS SAYING THE MEMBER SHALL.
SINCE EACH ONE HAS THEIR OWN BY LAWS AND SOME OF OUR BY LAWS WILL NOW ALSO IMPACT THEM.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I MAYBE PUT AN ASTERIX NEXT TO IT, AND THEN WE PUT A LITTLE THING UNDERNEATH THAT SAYS ANYTHING WITH AN ASTERIX APPLIES TO THE BOARDS AS WELL SO THAT THERE'S A KEY TO THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY LIST IT EVERY TIME, BUT THERE'S JUST A LITTLE KEY THAT SAYS IF IT HAS AN ASTERIX, IT'S TO EVERYONE.
>> I THINK WHAT THE OTHER BOARDS LIKE ONCE THEY DEVELOP THEIR OWN PROCEDURE IS TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT THIS SUPERSEDES WHENEVER THEY DEVELOP THERE.
IF IT'S CONFLICTS, THEY COULD HAVE PROVISION THAT'S BETTER THAN THIS.
BUT IF IT CONFLICTS AND STATE, FOR INSTANCE, THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS,
[01:10:01]
I CAN TAKE GIFT FOR $2,000, AND THIS HAS $50, THEN THIS SUPERSEDES.TO HAVE IT CLEAR IN THEIR PROCEDURE, WE PROBABLY COULD OUTLINE IT IN THIS DOCUMENT AS WELL, THAT IF INDIVIDUAL BOARDS OR WHATEVER CREATE THEIR OWN DOCUMENTS, THEN THIS IS THE RULING DOCUMENT PROVIDED THAT IT DOESN'T CONFLICT OR OTHERWISE.
>> I LIKE THAT, PUTTING IN A PROVISION LIKE THAT ONTO THIS DOCUMENT.
>> UNDER THE CODE OF ETHICS SECTION IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE I THINK I DON'T I CAN'T QUOTE EXACTLY WHERE, BUT THERE IS A SECTION IN AM I BE IN CHAPTER OR ARTICLE 8 THAT DOES SPECIFY THAT EVERYTHING CONTAINED IN THE BY LAWS APPLIES TO THE BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS, UNLESS THEY OTHERWISE ADOPT THEIR OWN BY LAWS, AND THEN COUNCIL HAS TO RATIFY THOSE, BUT I CAN MAYBE MAKE SURE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT ADDRESSING A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO THAT THIS SUPERSEDES, JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
>> ANY CHANGES TO THE POLICY ROLE OF MEMBERS.
>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE PHOTOCOPIED AND SENT OUT TO EVERYONE BECAUSE THAT'S A PERSONAL THING BECAUSE IT'S THE KICKBACK I GET FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I LOVE THAT IT SAYS EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY THE CITY CODE BECAUSE BRINGING UP CODE AND ENFORCING IT, IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE DOING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY GET A LOT OF GRIEF FOR DOING.
IT'S JUST INTERESTING THAT IT IS ALREADY EXISTING WITHIN OUR BY LAWS THAT THAT IS A RESPONSIBILITY.
I JUST DOESN'T APPEAR WIDELY KNOWN.
I THINK THE POLICY AND ROLE OF MEMBERS IS PRETTY GOOD.
IT DICTATES WHAT SHOULD BE DONE THAT FOLLOWING THE HRC AND THE ORDINANCES. I LIKE IT.
>> ANY CHANGES THE INDEPENDENCE OF BOARDS?
>> YES. ON THIS, I THINK THIS MAY BE A SPOT WHERE ADDING IN AND I DON'T KNOW IF HRC IS DOING THIS, SO YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THAT AGENDAS.
THE WAY THINGS ARE CURRENTLY WRITTEN, TECHNICALLY, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER TECHNICALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET THE AGENDAS FOR ALL THE BOARDS AND COUNCIL, WHICH I THINK IS NOT OKAY.
I THINK THAT THE CHAIR OF EACH BOARD SHOULD BE GIVEN THAT ABILITY IN FULL, LIKE THE MAYOR HAS WHEN DOING THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA.
THAT HE HAS THAT SAME INFLUENCE EACH BOARD MEMBERS CHAIR SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE IF WE HAVE THE MAYOR GETTING FINAL SAY ON AGENDAS, THEN A STAFF MEMBER OR WHATEVER IN THE FUTURE, THEY COULD JUST TAKE THE AGENDA TO BE LIKE, HEY, I DON'T LIKE WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING ON THIS.
CAN YOU JUST SAY NO TO IT AND THAT COULD HAPPEN? I THINK PART OF THAT INDEPENDENCE IS ENSURING THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS CHAIR OR CO CHAIR,
[01:15:06]
IF THEY WHATEVER, GETS TO HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE AND THAT AUTHORITY OVER THEIR AGENDA AS WELL TO KEEP THINGS SEPARATED.OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST DOING WHAT COUNCIL SAYS.
>> THE HOME RULE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY PROPOSED SOME AMENDMENTS.
I WILL SAY THE WAY THE CHARTER IS AS IS, CURRENTLY, WHICH IS LIKE THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE CITY.
THE POWER TO PREPARE AND RECOMMEND ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE OFFICIAL AGENDA OF ALL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED BY THIS CHARTER ORDINANCE, THAT'S THE POWER AND DUTY OF THE CITY MANAGER.
THAT'S WHAT THE CHARTER IS CURRENTLY, BUT THE HOME RULE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE IS LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD SAY THAT YOUR CONCERN WILL PROBABLY BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROCESS.
>> EXCELLENT. THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
>> I THINK ONE SECTION I'LL PROBABLY, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THAT SECTION TALKING ABOUT INDEPENDENCE. I'M NOT SURE.
BUT I HAVE IN MY NOTES HERE IS TO ADD SOMETHING AS IT PERTAINS TO INFLUENCING, WHETHER IT'S BOARD MEMBERS OR CITY OFFICIAL.
I HAVE SOMETHING HERE WHERE NO CITY OFFICIAL ELECTED, ARE APPOINTED SHALL USE THREATS, INTIMIDATION OR COERCION TO INFLUENCE THE VOTE, JUDGMENT, ACTION OR INACTION OF ANOTHER CITY OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE.
>> THANK YOU. I REALLY LIKE HAVING THAT ONE.
>> ANY CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT.
MAYBE SOMETHING COULD BE ADDED LIKE THEY COULD ENCOURAGE PROBABLY CITY STAFF, LIKE ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEAK UP OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
JUST LIKE HOW IT'S ENCOURAGING.
IT SAID MEMBERS SHALL RECOGNIZE YOUR SPECIAL ROLE IN DEALING WITH EMPLOYEES TO IN NO WAY CREATE THE PERCEPTION OF INAPPROPRIATE DIRECTION TO STAFF AND PROBABLY ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM OR THE WAY HOW I WANT TO PUT IT IS LIKE DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES FEEL LIKE THEY CANNOT SPEAK UP AS IT RELATES TO CERTAIN MATTERS.
NO REQUIRING THEM TO DO IT, BUT ENCOURAGE IT. SET THE TONE.
>> I TRIED TO READ, LIKE ALL THE THINGS FOR THIS, BUT WITHIN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, I KNOW IF THE EMPLOYEE DOES HAVE A PROBLEM, THEY GO TO HR AND THEY GO TO THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THERE THAT'S AND WITH THE POLICY THAT CURRENTLY STANDS OF ELIMINATING THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND STAFF.
THERE ISN'T REALLY A WAY FOR A STAFF MEMBER WHO FEELS LIKE THEY CAN'T GET THE HELP FROM THE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD, IN THE EVENT THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T GO TO THE CITY MANAGER OR THEY CAN'T GO TO HR BECAUSE OR THEY DO AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THE RESPONSE HELPED THEM IN WHAT NEEDED TO BE OR ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OR CONCERN.
IS THERE A POLICY OR PROCEDURE OR SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT DOES ALLOW THEM TO COME TO COUNCIL OR TO
[01:20:01]
THE MAYOR TO SEEK THAT IT LIKE WHEN IF THERE'S A DOCUMENT THAT I CAN'T HAVE IT GOES TO YOU, LIKE HAVING THAT KIND OF PROCEDURE WHERE THEY CAN COME FOR THAT NEXT JUDGMENT, THAT NEXT LEVEL, BECAUSE WHEN THE PERSON THE PEOPLE BECAUSE HR AND STUFF, WHO CAN HIRE AND FIRE YOU ARE THE ONES WHO AT THE END OF THE DAY, MAKE THE DECISION, SOMETIMES, SPEAKING OUT IS NOT SOMETHING SOMEONE WILL WANT TO DO BECAUSE IT PUTS THEM MAYBE AT A RISK OR THEY MIGHT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT RISK OR SOMETHING.I LIKE THAT YOUR COMMENT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ENCOURAGED AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN SPEAK UP.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A SAFETY NET IN PLACE FOR THEM THAT SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO THAT OR WHEN THEY DO THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK AND BITE THEM BECAUSE THE POLICY WITHIN THE HANDBOOK, THE BUCK STOPS AT HR AND CITY MANAGER.
>> I THINK LIKE LOOKING AT IT AND THE REASON WHY I PUT ENCOURAGE IS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IS LIKE A COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER TYPE OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL IS LIKE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE CITY MANAGERS OPERATING THE BUSINESS.
EVEN IF IT COMES UP, THEN IT MAY GO BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER TO HANDLE.
IT'S MORE SO OF HAVING THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED LIKE A TONE AT THE TOP IS TO HAVE THAT CULTURE WHERE FOLKS WILL NOT BE RETALIATED AGAINST IF THEY SHOULD GO TO THE COUNCIL.
BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY, IT MAY GO BACK DOWN TO THE CITY MANAGER LIKE, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS? BUT COULD IT LEAD TO TERMINATION, OF COURSE.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROBLEM [LAUGHTER] IF IT DOES.
>> RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT. THEY CANNOT.
THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND STAFF IS LIMITED.
>> IF IT IMPACTS CITY BUSINESS, WHICH IT COULD, IF IT'S SOMETHING, A COMPLAINT OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE AWARENESS OF, IT REALLY CAN'T HAPPEN.
IS CONCERNED ABOUT BUDGETS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I THINK THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THE THING IS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BLOW, SAY, JUST USE AN EXAMPLE, WANTS TO BLOW A WHISTLE.
IT'S LIKE AND THEN THE COUNCIL IS PROVIDING OVERSIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE A RULE THAT PROHIBITS AN EMPLOYEE FROM SAYING GOING OR WRITING AN EMAIL TO A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE ISSUE AND I WOULD HOPE THERE'S NOT.
IS THERE A RULE TO THAT EFFECT? LIKE YOU CANNOT AT ALL.
>> THERE'S AND THIS IS ALSO A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION WITH THE HOME RULE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CHARTER THAT BASICALLY SAYS THAT NEITHER THE MAYOR NOR ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL IN ANY MANNER DICTATE THE APPOINTMENT OR REMOVAL OF ANY CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE CITY MANAGER OR ANY OF THE SUBORDINATES ARE EMPOWERED TO APPOINT.
BASICALLY, COUNCIL CAN'T INTERFERE WITH STAFF MEMBER.
ESSENTIALLY, COUNCIL, THEY APPOINT CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND MUNICIPAL JUDGE, EVERYTHING ELSE.
EVERY OTHER STAFF MEMBER IN THE CITY IS APPOINTED OR HIRED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
>> BUT WITH THAT PROVISION, I DON'T THINK IT PROHIBITS THEM FROM COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY CAN'T SAY, WELL, YOU COME TO ME.
I COULD STATE, FOR INSTANCE, I'M WORKING FOR THE CITY, I HAVE A COMPLAINT, AND I SEND IT UP TO SAY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD HERE AND SAY, HEY, THESE ARE MY CONCERNS WITH X, Y, Z.
WHILE YOU CANNOT MAKE THE DECISION AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU CAN SAY, HEY, CITY MANAGER, HERE'S AN ISSUE, AND YOU GUYS NEED TO WORK ON IT.
THEN IF YOU CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THOSE COMPLAINTS, AND THEN PROVIDE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, SOMETHING IS NOT GOING ON RIGHT HERE AT THE CITY, AND WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE CERTAIN MATTERS AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CUT OFF OR DISCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO NOT RAISE CONCERN.
THE ISSUE COMES DOWN TO, CAN YOU MAKE THE DECISION? NO, BUT YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND HAVE THEM DEAL WITH IT.
THEN IF YOU HAVE, SAY, 15, 20 COMPLAINTS COMING IN, I'M PRETTY SURE THE CITY MANAGER WOULDN'T LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO START AN INVESTIGATION TO THAT EFFECT.
IT'S A BALANCE AND CHECK WHERE I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
>> I THINK IT'S ALL GOOD DISCUSSION.
[01:25:01]
I THINK ADDING SOME LANGUAGE TO THAT THE SECTION THAT YOU REFERENCED, MAYBE SOME JUST GENERAL LANGUAGE WOULD BE GOOD.I THINK MAYBE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE MIGHT BE BETTER ADDRESSED IN THE EMPLOYEE MANUAL.
I WISH I HAD FALLEN HERE SO SHE COULD CHIME IN.
SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO.
BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A PROCEDURE, BUT SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT, I HEAR THE CONCERNS AND THE IDEAS, SO MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THAT THERE.
>> LOOKING AT THE BY LAWS, MAYBE ADDING SOME LANGUAGE UNDER THAT POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT.
>> YEAH, I'LL JUST ENCOURAGE IT HERE, AND THEN WHATEVER POLICIES THEY HAVE, THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A POLICY THAT SAYS, HEY, JOHN, YOU CAN NEVER EVER GO TO CITY COUNCIL. THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
>> OH, IT JUST, THE ONLY REASON WHY IT CONCERNS ME IS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE IT'S A MESSAGE IS SENT THROUGH A PERSON TO BE LIKE, HEY, I HAVE A PROBLEM, AND IT'S LIKE THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO, BUT IT'S SOMEONE TRYING TO GET HELP AND THEY CAN'T GET HELP AND THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THE HELP THAT THEY NEED OR YOU'RE OUT IN PUBLIC AND THEY RECOGNIZE, HEY, YOU'RE ON COUNSEL, AND THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, BUT IT CAN NEVER EVER PUT MY NAME ON IT BECAUSE THERE'S THE POLICY IN PLACE THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK TO US.
THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF TIMES WHERE THAT HAS HAPPENED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ALLOW THEM TO COMMUNICATE AND THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO DO IT.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS IN A PLACE OF BUSINESS, IT'S ALWAYS A CHAIN OF COMMAND.
IF YOUR COMPLAINT IS WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR, YOU HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES IN PLACE, THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO START, NOT STRAIGHT TO THE TOP TO CITY COUNCIL.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNICATION OPEN IS FAIR, BUT THE REDIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ENCOURAGE SAID PERSON TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR, HUMAN RESOURCES, FILE A FORM OF COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE ARE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR SUCH THINGS THAT OCCUR IN THE WORKPLACE.
GO STRAIGHT TO THE TOP, IT'S JUST LIKE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DON'T MEAN ANYTHING, AND JUST ME BEING A DIRECTOR. I GET THAT.
>> SURE. I KNOW AND I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR OFF TOPIC, BUT I KNOW IN THE EMPLOYEE MANUAL, THERE IS A COMPLAINT PROCESS AND GO UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND ALSO ULTIMATELY AN APPEAL PROCESS.
I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE NUTS AND BOLTS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT'S IN THERE AND SOMETHING I CAN MAYBE GET WITH FALLON, JUST GO OVER JUST SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE EXPRESSED AND MAKE SURE THAT'S ADDRESSED, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR OFF TOPIC FROM THE BYLAWS.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT OR ANY OTHER SECTIONS THERE IN AS RELATES TO 9.3? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO 9.4 AS IT RELATES TO SANCTIONS.
>> ON THAT, I DO HAVE TWO THINGS.
FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE CODE OF ETHICS AND THE ETHICS TRAINING FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS.
I MEAN, RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT YOU CAN GO TO THE TML WEBSITE.
YOU CLICK A THING AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND IT'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR OUR TRAININGS, AND HOW MANY HOURS WE'VE PUT IN.
I'M AIMING FOR THE AWARD BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET ALL THE HOURS.
>> BUT, [LAUGHTER] THE THING IS, I THINK THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
JUST LIKE WHEN WE DID THE ELECTIONS, WE HAD TO TURN IN OUR BUDGET REPORTS AND STUFF.
I THINK THAT WE ALREADY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO AMBER THE CERTIFICATE AND STUFF LIKE WHEN WE'VE COMPLETED SOMETHING.
I HATE, I'M SORRY, IF IT COULD BE UPLOADED INTO, WHEN YOU CLICK MY PROFILE OR MY PICTURE OR WHATEVER ON CITY PAGE, THEN THERE'S WITH MY BIO COMES UP AND MAYBE THERE'S THE LINK THAT'S LIKE, HERE'S THE TRAININGS THAT I'VE ATTENDED, AND YOU KNOW IF I'M DOING MY PART, AM I GOING TO THE TRAININGS? AM I STAYING UP TO DATE? BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN THE ELECTIONS COME, AS YOU MENTIONED, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT, AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD CREATE AN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL OF US IF IT'S THERE.
IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO THE TRAININGS, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT IN THE WORK FOR THAT,
[01:30:02]
THEN THE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THAT'S THE CHOICE YOU'RE MAKING, AND THE SAME THING WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CODE OF ETHICS, WE SIGNED THE PAGE, PUT IT ON THERE.SHOW LIKE WE ARE AGREED TO THIS.
AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S THERE, AND IT HOLDS US ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE SHOWING THEM, WE'VE AGREED TO THIS, WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT.
IT'S SAYING THAT WE READ IT, SO NO ONE CAN COME BACK AND BE LIKE, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW. YOU SAID YOU READ IT.
AGAIN, THAT PUTTING THOSE, THE TRAINING HOURS AND STUFF IT'LL SHOW, I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK AND BE LIKE, OH, YEAR 1, SHE DID ALL THIS, BUT BY YEAR 3, SHE'S DOING NOTHING.
THAT'S GOING TO LOOK BAD. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE FOUR YEARS THAT YOU'RE INTERNMENT, AND ALL THAT.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK IS RESIDENCE, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE PUBLIC TO YOU?
>> I MEAN, IT COULD BE PUBLIC, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED TO INCLUDE IT HERE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF, I LIKE THE IDEA, THE TRAINING PROBABLY, A LINK OR HYPER LINK OR SOMETHING THAT SAYS WITH A CHECK MARK.
HERE'S WHAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER DID, AND IT SHOWS ALL THE PITCHES WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CHECK MARK.
IT'S PROBLEMATIC. NOT PROBLEMATIC, BUT INTERESTING.
THEN FOR AS YOU RELATES TO SIGNING THE BYLAWS, WHICH HERE, IF YOU HAVE YOUR COPY IN THERE, A DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBER DOESN'T, THEN IT'S LIKE WHERE'S YOURS? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THAT I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED TO INCLUDE IT IN THE SANCTION SECTION, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THE CITY COULD ENHANCE ON THEIR WEBSITE AS IT RELATES TO INFORMATION.
MAYBE THE TECH PERSON FOR THE CITY COULD ENHANCE THAT OR WHATNOT [LAUGHTER].
>> AT MY JOB, I'LL ALWAYS COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS WITH SYSTEM AND SAY, HEY, I NEED THIS TO JUST POP UP ONE SIDE LOGGING.
YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN. I'M LIKE, I LOVE IT.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF, THIS SECTION 9.4, THE SANCTIONS WE DISCUSSED, I THINK THIS WILL BE MAYBE SPELLED OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE.
THIS WILL BE BUTTONED UP, SO CERTAINLY CAN GO THROUGH HERE, BUT A LOT OF THIS WILL BE UPDATED IN THE NEW COMPLAINT PROCEDURE PROCESS.
BASED ON THE DIRECTION YOU GUYS GAVE, GOING OFF TO ALLEN CODE OF ETHICS, AND I'VE NOTED SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN ADDITIONS TO THEIR CODE, BUT, YEAH, JUST WANTED [INAUDIBLE].
>> THIS ONE IS LIKE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO READ THROUGH THE OTHERS.
THIS ONE IS PRECISE, IN THAT YOU ARE INELIGIBLE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSIGNMENTS.
IT'S PRECISE THAN WHAT THE OTHERS ARE.
LIKE YOU CANNOT SERVE ON A BOARD AND SO FORTH.
I LIKE THESE AS OPPOSED TO THE GENERALS, IT COULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE COMPLAINTS PROCESS.
>> CAN WE INCLUDE, THIS JUST POPPED IN MY HEAD SOMETHING IN HERE THAT STATES THAT WHENEVER THEY'RE UPDATED, IT HAS TO BE SIGNED AGAIN.
>> ANY OTHER CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 9.4, IF NOT, WE CAN MOVE ON TO 9.5.
JUST IN GENERAL, IF IT REFERS TO CITY SECRETARIES BEING SUBJECT TO THESE, THAT'S AUTOMATICALLY BEING REMOVED. I WILL HAVE TO POINT IT OUT.
>> I WOULDN'T HAVE INCLUDED. YEAH.
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES IN THIS ONE.
>> THEN 9.5, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION.
>> JUST A COMMENT, I HAVE THIS SECOND PARAGRAPH WHERE IT HAS IN PARENTHESES EXAMPLE BELOW.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN EXAMPLE PROVIDED.
I KNOW OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A TEMPLATE, BUT WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE ME TO MAYBE DRAFT THAT AND IT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BYLAWS, SO YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS WELL? I KNOW IT LIKE I SAID, HAS EXAMPLE BELOW, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD EVER ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE BY LAWS.
I KNOW WE HAVE IT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS DO IT,
[01:35:03]
BUT JUST A THOUGHT.>> I LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEN IT SHOWS THAT IT'S A STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> WITH THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION AS IT RELATES TO 9.3 [LAUGHTER].
>> I'VE GOT NOTES AND I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND WATCH THE VIDEO AGAIN, BUT IF SOMEONE CAN JUST MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR SECTION THE REMAINDER OF ARTICLE 9, THAT BE SUFFICIENT.
I'LL GO BACK. THERE'S A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE.
>> I WILL MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE REST OF ARTICLE 9 TO INCLUDE THE ADDED AND AMENDED ITEMS, BUT ALSO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROCEDURE AND PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS WILL BE FINE TUNED BECAUSE THAT WILL INCLUDE THAT SECTION ABOUT BOARD MEMBERS AND THE REPRIMANDS, THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REWRITES. CORRECT?
>> YEAH. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH COMPLAINT PROCEDURE? IT'LL BE APPLICABLE TO COUNSEL OF BOARDS COMMISSIONS, EVERYBODY.
>> WE JUST DO IT BY SECTIONS, MAYBE 9.3 AND THEN PROCEDURE.
>> THAT'LL BE REFINED BASED ON SIMILAR TO WHAT ALLEN HAS, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE SAME COMPLAINT PROCEDURE.
>> IS THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE GOING TO BE SEPARATED FROM THIS SECTION 9 THING ALTOGETHER?
>> NO. I THINK THE THOUGHT IS TO INCLUDE IT WITHIN CHAPTER 9 TO UPDATE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE A COMPLAINT PROCEDURE CURRENTLY.
WE'LL MAKE SURE TO UPDATE THAT BASED ON THE DIRECTION GIVEN FROM THE COMMITTEE, GOING OFF OF THAT ALLEN.
>> FOR AMBER'S SAKE, THEN, I WILL RESTATE MY MOTION.
I MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF ARTICLE 9 TO INCLUDE THE AMENDMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AND FOR THE SECTION ON COMPLAINT PROCESSES TO BE UPDATED AND BROUGHT BACK BEFORE US.
>> WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE ON THAT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL PROCEED TO H62025036,
[ H.6 2025-036 Consider selecting the dates and times of future Committee meetings; and take appropriate action.]
WHICH IS TO CONSIDER SELECTING THE DATES AND TIMES OF FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.WE HAVE THE CALENDAR HERE, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK.
>> I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY NO TO SEPTEMBER 11TH BECAUSE THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY, SO NOT THAT THURSDAY.
>> IF I CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO NOT DO THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, TO GO AFTER JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NEW NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR POSTING AGENDAS.
WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
IT BUMPS IT BASICALLY FROM 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO NOW AT LEAST THREE BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE.
IF WE CAN BUMP IT AT LEAST UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8TH, THAT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'LL STEAL THE 10TH BEFORE ANYONE ELSE TAKES IT.
SAME TIME, 6:30 PM, IF THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE VOTE ON THAT AS IT RELATES TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025.
I THINK WE'RE MISSING A VOTE, IS IT? [INAUDIBLE] VOTE [NOISE].
[01:40:06]
>> MISS STANFORD, WE'RE MISSING YOUR VOTE.
THERE YOU GO. SORRY. THANK YOU.
>> MOTION CARRIES 5, 0 [LAUGHTER].
THEN WE'LL PROCEED TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
>> MEETING ADJOURNED FOR TODAY.
WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS, SEPTEMBER 10TH, AT 6:30 PM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. SEE YOU THEN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.