* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [00:00:05]
          GOOD 
          [Call to Order]
EVENING COMMISSIONERS, STAFF GUEST. 
          UH, MY NAME IS GERALD BRIGHT AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE RICHARDSON CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO ORDER AT 6:02 PM 
          [1. Conduct a Public Hearing to receive public input on the Richardson City Charter.]
THE FIRST ITEM AND ONLY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE RICHARDSON CITY CHARTER. 
          BEFORE WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, STAFF WILL GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CHARTER PROCESS AND SCHEDULE, AND MS. AMY EMER WILL DO THAT. 
          AND SO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU CHAIR BRIGHT. 
          UH, I KNOW MOST OF YOU HEARD THIS AT OUR FIRST MEETING, BUT JUST FOR OUR AUDIENCE, UH, WE'LL GO OVER HOME RULE CHARTERS IN GENERAL AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THE CHARTER CAN BE AMENDED AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER THE SCHEDULE. 
          SO THE LAW PROVIDES FOR TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF CITIES, AND THAT IS A GENERAL LAW CITY. 
          AND THEN IN 1912, TEXAS VOTERS VOTE ADOPTED WHAT'S CALLED THE HOME RULE CHARTER AMENDMENT, AND THAT IS AN ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION. 
          AND THIS ALLOWS CITIES TO ADOPT A CITY CHARTER BY ELECTION OF THE CITIZENS WHEN THE CITY REACHES A POPULATION OF 5,000. 
          WHAT A CHARTER DOES IS IT ESTABLISHES THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S POWERS. 
          THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOME RULE, CITY AND A GENERAL LAW CITY IS THAT A HOME RULE CITY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENACT ORDINANCES AND LAWS THAT SUIT THEIR CITIZENS AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT IN CONFLICT WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW OR THE STATE CONSTITUTION. 
          WHILE GENERAL LAW CITIES OPERATE UNDER SPECIFIC STATE STATUTES PRESCRIBING THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES, WHEN CITIES HAVE A HOME RULE CHARTER, THE CHARTER CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY MAJORITY VOTERS, THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN AN ELECTION. 
          UM, AND SO A CHARTER ESTABLISHES THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S POWERS. 
          AND THEN WHEN A CITY HAS A HOME RULE CHARTER, THE CHARTER CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN AN ELECTION. 
          AND SO CHARTER AMENDMENTS CAN BE MADE BY OUR CITY CHARTER IN THREE DIFFERENT METHODS. 
          ONE IS BY ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, TWO IS BY RECOMMENDATION OF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, AND THREE IS BY PETITION OF THE VOTERS. 
          AND THE CITY OF RICHARDSON HAS AMENDED THE CHARTER USING ALL THREE OF THESE METHODS. 
          ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION IS, UH, DESIGNATED AND MAKES A REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT BOUND BY THAT REPORT. 
          THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT, UM, ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          THEY MAY MODIFY RECOMMENDATIONS, OR THEY MAY ADD THEIR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          AND HERE IS THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE OF REVIEW. 
          AND WE'VE BASED THIS SCHEDULE, UH, BASED ON THE NOVEMBER 25 ELECTION DATE IN CASE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ELECTION. 
          SO WE KIND OF JUST BACKDATED THE SCHEDULE TO REVIEW ALL OF THE SECTIONS BASED ON THAT SCHEDULE. 
          I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. ER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          ALRIGHT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. 
          SHERIFF WRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. 
          IT IS 6:05 PM AND, UH, FIRST WE'LL GO OVER THE PROCEDURES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          EACH SPEAKER HAS FIVE MINUTES DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          UH, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COMPLETE AND HOPEFULLY YOU DID. 
          IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY, UH, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE STEP TO THE PODIUM TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS. 
          HOWEVER, BEFORE YOU PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS, BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. 
          SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE CARDS IF SOMEONE IS, UH, UP TO SPEAK. 
          MS. EMER, I, I HAVE RECEIVED ONE CARD FROM JUSTIN NTH. 
          UH, MRNE, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. 
          GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. 
          JUSTIN NTH 4 2 5 PLEASANT VALLEY LANE. 
          I WANNA FIRST THANK YOU AND I'LL ECHO MR. MAGNER'S WORDS. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND VOLUNTEERING TO DO SOMETHING. 
          THANK YOU FOR STUDYING OUR CHARTER AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERING WHAT UPDATES THE PEOPLE OF RICHARDSON NEED. 
          I, I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH EFFORT IT TAKES TO BE INFORMED AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON WHAT DECISIONS WOULD BEST SERVE OUR CITIZENS. 
          FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, I WATCH AND REPORT ON EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CITY PLAN COMMISSION MEETING, AND NOW I DO THE SAME FOR THIS CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. 
          MY GOAL IS TO KEEP A CAREFUL RECORD AND TO INFORM RICHARDSON RESIDENTS OF THE DECISIONS BEING MADE ON OUR BEHALF. 
          YOUR JOB ISN'T EASY WHEN THE PUBLIC ISN'T SHOWING UP TO TELL 
          [00:05:01]
YOU WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO. 
          I HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. 
          THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO PROVIDE INPUT AT EVERY MEETING. 
          I PLAN TO DO JUST THAT AS I FOLLOW ALONG AND STUDY THE SAME CHARTER SECTIONS AS YOU. 
          I'LL MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS I THINK ARE IMPORTANT. 
          I WANNA REMIND YOU OF YOUR PURPOSE AS A COMMISSION. 
          THIS HOME RULE CHARTER GIVES RICHARDSON THE RIGHT TO SELF GOVERN. 
          WE SHOULDN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT DIMINISH OUR SELF-REGULATION AND WE SHOULDN'T SEEK TO MATCH OUR HOME RULE CHARTER WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. 
          YES, WE CANNOT DO SOMETHING THAT STATE OR FEDERAL LAW SAYS WE CANNOT DO, BUT WE ONLY LOOK TO THEM FOR LIMITS, NOT FOR PERMISSION. 
          OUR CITY ATTORNEYS AND OTHER STAFF ARE HERE TO ADVISE YOU ON WHAT IS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW. 
          THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          THEY'RE NOT HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. 
          THERE ARE ONLY 11 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION. 
          I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT YOU SHOW UP TO EVERY MEETING AND THAT YOU SHOW UP PREPARED. 
          PLEASE DON'T FALL PREY TO GROUP THINK. 
          DON'T JUST RAISE YOUR HAND BECAUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR DID. 
          MAKE SURE YOU COMPLETE, YOU COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE JUSTIFICATION AND IMPLICATION OF EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE HERE. 
          AND NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION IF YOU DON'T. 
          I HOPE WE HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU 11 ON EACH DISCUSSION. 
          NO ONE SHOULD FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE A BACK SEAT TO OTHERS. 
          YOU'RE ALL ON THE LEVEL EQUAL. 
          ANY OF YOU CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. 
          SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR DOING SOMETHING. 
          I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU RECORD THESE MEETINGS. 
          WHAT YOU DECIDE HERE WILL AFFECT RICHARDSON'S FUTURE. 
          MY 10TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER, GEORGE THOMASON SAID, ACTIONS YET MAY BE PRESIDENTS TO POSTERITY, OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR RECORDS AND MERIT A CAREFUL PRESERVATION. 
          PLEASE. 
          I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR WHAT HAPPENS HERE. 
          MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TONIGHT'S SECTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS. 
          IN SECTION 2.04, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER REMOVING OR EXPLAINING THE AUTHORIZATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. 
          OUTSIDE IS THE WORD I NEED CLARIFICATION ON. 
          WHEN WOULD WE NEED TO SPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS ON THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS? I SEEK THE SAME CLARIFICATION FOR SECTION 1804 REGARDING ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR PARKS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS REGARDING SECTION 1801. 
          I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP IT THE WAY IT'S, IF CLARIFICATIONS NEED TO BE MADE IN THE CODE OF ETHICS, FINE. 
          BUT THIS SECTION OF THE CHARTER SHOULDN'T ROLL BACK ANY PROTECTIONS AGAINST PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. 
          FINALLY, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, SECTION 1808 ALLOWS THE REQUIREMENT OF SURETY BONDS FOR ANY OFFICIAL DIRECTOR OR EMPLOYEE. 
          I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE WORD MAY TO SHALL AND APPLY THAT TO ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS. 
          THEN I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER KEEPING THE WORD MAY AND APPLYING IT TO THE REMAINDER OF ALL CITY EMPLOYEES. 
          THIS IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO ENSURE THE FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES OF AN OFFICE. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR DE TO YOUR DELIBERATION AND DISCUSSIONS THIS EVENING. 
          I ASK YOU NOT TO FEEL RUSHED. 
          IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT THIS GET DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME THAN IT IS TO MEET SOME CALENDAR DEADLINE, AS THEY TOLD ME IN THE ARMY. 
          SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST. 
          DO NOT RUSH YOUR WORK. 
          THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR DOING SOMETHING. 
          THANK YOU MR. NATH. 
          ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY OTHER CARDS? ANYONE SUBMITTING ANY OTHER CARDS? NO OTHER CARDS? UH, AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL RECESS TAKE A BRIEF RECESS TO RELOCATE TO THE SPRING CREEK ROOM TO CONDUCT THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AT THIS TIME. 
          UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENT, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. 
          SECOND AND A VOTE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF A MOTION BY MS. QUIRK AND A SECOND BY MR. THOMASON. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, WE ARE CLOSED. 
          THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AND HEAD TO THE OTHER ROOM. 
          MATTER IS STAYING IN HERE SINCE YOUR.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.