[CALL TO ORDER ]
[00:00:03]
THIS IS OUR LAST SCHEDULED MEETING THAT WE HAVE, AND WE ONLY HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON THE
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
AGENDA TONIGHT.UM, STARTING OF COURSE WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
UM, MS. RIOS, DO I HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES.
OKAY, MR. RIDDLE, WELCOME BACK.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I JUST WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS, AND I APPRECIATE IT, PROBABLY MORE THAN MOST OTHER PEOPLE DO, 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T COME TO THESE MEETINGS.
BUT, UH, UH, AS I MENTIONED THAT WHEN I FIRST, UH, SPOKE TO YOU, YOU WERE GIVEN SOME ASSIGNMENT TO DO SOME THINGS THAT I THINK ARE NOT THE, THE BEST IDEAS.
AND SO I'M NOT FAULTING YOU FOR COMING UP WITH, UH, SOME OF THESE PROPOSITIONS, BUT I WILL BE OPPOSING THEM FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
UH, BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPOSITIONS.
I KNOW THAT IN THE REPORT, SOME OF THESE, UH, PROPOSED LANGUAGES ARE PREFACED BY SAYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET RUN BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO I SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF FIX UP THE WORDING.
BUT I DID WANNA POINT OUT A FEW THINGS TO YOU.
UH, ONE THING IS, UM, THE IDEA OF, UH, HAVING THE 3.5% THRESHOLD, UH, I LOOKED BACK AND WHEN THIS PROPOSITION, WHEN THE CURRENT WORDING WAS PUT INTO THE CHARTER, UH, 12 YEARS AGO, THEY, THEY DIDN'T REALLY TRY TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS THEN A 10% REQUIREMENT, AND THEN THIS, THIS NEW REQUIREMENT THAT, UH, IT'D BE TRACKED STATE LAW WITH RESPECT TO CHARTER AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS.
AND THE PROPOSITION BACK THEN SAID, SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED FOR A CITIZEN INITIATE INITIATED ORDINANCE OR REFERENDUM? IN OTHER WORDS, IT DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE TECHNICAL CHANGE, IT JUST KIND OF EXPLAINED THE EFFECT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE AS KIND OF A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE PROPOSITIONS IS DO YOU JUST RECITE THE WORDING THAT AS IT'S CHANGED OR DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON? SO AGAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE, UH, IDEA OF HAVING THE 3.5% THRESHOLD FOR INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT? UM, AND, AND, AND AS TIME GOES BY, THAT 3.5% IS GONNA MEAN MORE AND MORE VOTERS, OR LESS AND LESS DEPENDING UPON THE POPULATION.
SO, UH, THAT ONE IS, IS PRETTY TRICKY TO EXPLAIN, UH, WITHOUT GETTING PRETTY WORDY.
SO I, I THINK REALLY TO, UH, INFORM THE VOTERS THAT SOME OF THESE PROPOSITIONS NEED TO BE, UH, EXPLAINED FURTHER.
AS TO THE, UH, NOTICE OF INTENT AND THE VALIDITY SIGNATURES, I JUST HAVE ONE TECHNICAL REQUIRE, UM, NOTE, UH, THAT THE STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE YOU TO PUT IN YOUR COUNTY OF RESIDENCE, UH, ALONG WITH YOUR VOTER ID IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE YOUR BIRTH DATE.
SECOND PAGE RECOMMENDATION FOUR.
ELECTIONS LIMITED TO MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATES.
THIS ONE, UH, THE WAY IT'S WORDED, UH, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF ALL, UM, WHAT, WHEN A MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE IS OKAY.
AND THEY WON'T, WILL NOT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, INSTEAD THAT IT'S GETTING POSTPONED TO, UH, NOVEMBER OF AN EVEN NUMBERED ELECTION YEAR FROM EITHER A MAY OR A, UH, A NOVEMBER, UH, IMMEDIATELY PERCE SUCCEEDING IT.
UH, WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAST ONE, LOOK AT, GIVE A LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE.
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ALSO HAS A COPY OF THIS, UM, AS THEY'RE DEVELOPING THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
OKAY.THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 7TH MEETING, WHICH YOU HAVE THERE IN YOUR PACKET CHAIR ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
UM, A REQUEST TO REVISE AS FOLLOWS WAS PROVIDED, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE TO CHANGE IT, TO READ A RENEWED MOTION TO APPROVE THE 3.5% SIGNATURE AS OPPOSED TO THE MOTION TO RENEW AND APPROVE.
DID EVERYONE GET THAT? SO IT READS A RENEWED MOTION TO APPROVE THE 3.5 SIGNATURE THRESHOLD.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED? I MOVE TO APPROVE AS MONDAY.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.
[2. Discussion and possible action on the review and adoption of the 2024 Charter Review Commission report to Council.]
[00:05:04]
SO MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.THIS IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION REPORT TO COUNSEL.
UM, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF MS. RIZVI ON THIS REPORT.
UM, SHE PREPARED AN AWESOME REPORT IN A VERY, VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, UM, AND DID ALL OF THE HEAVY LIFTING REALLY, WITH THIS REPORT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS.
AND, UM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND KIND OF GIVING US AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR PROCESS IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND THEN THE COMMISSION CAN KIND OF ASK QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
SO, UH, AS WE DISCUSSED AT, UH, THE LAST MEETING, YOU KNOW, STARTING WITH THE ADOPTED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAD, PUT THE WORK INTO RESEARCH AND, AND, UM, MOVE THROUGH YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMISSION.
SO I STARTED WITH THOSE AND ESSENTIALLY ADDED, UH, AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS YOU SEE HERE ON PAGE ONE OF, UM, SORT OF BREAKING DOWN ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE VOTES.
UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES A REFERENCE TO THE, UH, APPENDIX A, WHICH IS THE, UH, FUTURE RECOMMENDED TOPICS TO BE TAKEN UP BY A FUTURE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
UH, AS WELL AS, UM, THANKS TO A SUGGESTION FROM COMMISSIONER ULT MURANO, A, UH, A CHART, SORT OF A, AN INFOGRAPHIC OF THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS, THEIR DESCRIPTIONS, AND THE VOTE.
UH, AFTER THAT, ON PAGE THREE, YOU'LL SEE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, UH, THE INCEPTION OF THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, AS WELL AS, UH, A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, UM, THE MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUTREACH EFFORTS.
SO IT GOES INTO DETAIL ON, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SPEAK OF AUSTIN WEBSITE AS WELL AS THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WEBSITE WHERE MINUTES COULD BE FOUND.
UM, TALKS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SURVEY.
UH, THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED ON, UM, APPENDED TO THE REPORT IN APPENDIX C.
UM, AND THAT WAS, UH, THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER THAT SUMMARIZED THE RESULTS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN CPIO OFFICE.
UM, AND IT ALSO TOUCHES ON, UH, YOUR OUTWORK OUTREACH WORK THROUGH THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL AS, UM, IN THE LARGER MEETINGS OF THIS, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CLEANING UP, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU ALL HAVE HAVE APPROVED HERE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST KIND OF FORMALIZING THE FORMAT, UM, AND MAKING SURE IT'S CONSISTENT.
I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE MORE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
I CAN DO THAT, UM, FOR EACH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, TO THE EXTENT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS HAD SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.
UM, BUT AS WE DISCUSSED, I MADE SURE TO AT LEAST TALK TO ONE MEMBER FROM EACH WORKING GROUP IF THERE WAS A MAJOR SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE SO THAT BEFORE THE DRAFT WENT OUT, UM, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP HAD A CHANCE TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH, UM, WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF THE, THE COMMISSION.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, JUST IN TERMS OF, UM, JUST THE OVERALL PROCESS AND LAYOUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, A DRAFT WAS SHARED AT THE END OF LAST WEEK FOR YOU ALL TO REACT TO.
AND THEN WHAT YOU SEE UPLOADED ON, UH, ON THE WEBSITE IS BACKUP VERSION ONE AND VERSION TWO REFLECT, UM, ANY SORT OF LATER, UH, REVISIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED BY, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAD TO COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT THEIR, UH, THEIR SUGGESTED EDITS AND CHANGES.
SO THOSE ARE FACTORED INTO THE, THE VERSION THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSIONS, DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REVISIONS OR THE FINAL REPORT? COMMISSIONER GREENBERG? UM, THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT, UM, HOW IT WAS WRITTEN, 'CAUSE THIS IS HOW WE ACTED ON IT, BUT RECOMMENDATION THREE, UM, INCLUDES THIS, UM, 90 DAY DEADLINE.
AND EVEN ON, YOU KNOW, ONE VERSION OF IT, I'M LOOKING AT IT'S PAGE THREE, ONE VERSION.
IT'S PAGE ONE, BUT IT'S, IT REFERS TO A 90 DAY DEADLINE.
AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW.
WHAT IS THAT 90 DAY DEADLINE? UM, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE 90 DAY DEADLINE IS THAT IT'S THE 90 DAY, IT HAS TO BE TURNED IN 90 DAYS, AT LEAST 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION IS, UM, ORDERED OR WHATEVER.
UM, SO I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE, THE 90 DAY DEADLINE IS PERHAPS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NOTICE OF
[00:10:01]
INTENT.UM, IT'S, IT WAS, IT WAS DEFINITELY VOTED ON TOGETHER, BUT I JUST WONDER IF IT SHOULD BE A SEPARATE CHARTER IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING OR THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDING A SEPARATE CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR THAT 90 DAY DEADLINE TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR.
AND I DON'T THINK, I THINK THE LANGUAGE, UM, LIKE IN NUMBER THREE WITH THE 90 DAY DEADLINE, IT NEEDS TO SAY 90 DAYS AHEAD OF WHAT, SO THAT ANYONE READING THIS WILL KNOW WHAT THE 90 DAY DEADLINE ACTUALLY REFERS TO.
THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN IT IN 90 DAYS AHEAD OF 90 DAYS AHEAD OF WHEN THE ELECTION NEEDS TO BE ORDERED.
BUT THAT'S NOT AT ALL CLEAR ON THAT FIRST PAGE, WHICH JUST SAYS WITH A 90 DAY DEADLINE.
AND AGAIN, I DO THINK 90 DAY DEADLINE IS KIND OF A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THE, 'CAUSE THE 90 DAY DEADLINE WAS FOR THE VALIDATION OF SIGNATURES.
IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S THE 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION DAY IT FOR THE CLERK TO GIVE THE CLERK SUFFICIENT TIME TO VALIDATE THE PETITION.
AND THAT, THAT COULD HAVE ITS OWN RATIONALE AND OWN BALLOT, ITS OWN BALLOT LANGUAGE.
I, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO ON THIS, SO WE'RE STILL, WE ARE STILL GOING TO PRESENT THIS TO COUNCIL ON APRIL 16TH IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO BECAUSE THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS KIND OF WHAT WE AS A GROUP ADOPTED IT IS, BUT WE, BUT I THINK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY COUNCIL HAS FLEXIBILITY TO ADOPT OR REJECT ANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT PARTICULARLY WITH THIS ONE, I THINK WHAT GOES INTO THE CHARTER VERSUS WHAT, UM, PERHAPS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ORDINANCE, THERE'S KIND OF A WIDE RANGE.
AND SO MAYBE A COMPROMISE POSITION RATHER THAN TRYING TO AMEND THE REPORT AT THIS STAGE WOULD BE TO POINT THAT OUT TO COUNSEL IN OUR FINAL PRESENTATION.
WELL, I THINK THE COMPROMISE IS TO, AT THE VERY MINIMUM ON NUMBER THREE, WHERE IT SAYS SIGNATURE FORM AND NOTICE OF INTENT THAT THEY SAY WITH A DEADLINE 90 DAYS AHEAD OF THE, UM, DATE REQUIRED TO SET THE ELECTION.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE 90 DAY DEADLINE IS RATHER MEANINGLESS.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE THE ONLY ONES IN THE ROOM.
SO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON PAGE ONE, REFERENCES ITEM BIG C SIGNATURE VALIDITY, SMALL NUMBER D MM-HMM.
SO IT'S JUST, WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH UNDUE BURDEN TO ADD THAT ONE PHRASE? SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ON ITEM NUMBER THREE UNDER THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WE'RE SAYING REQUIRES OF A NO REQUIRES A NOTICE OF INTENT WITH A SUBMISSION DEADLINE OF 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION DATE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING? IT'S NOT THE NOTICE OF INTENT THAT NEEDS TO BE 90 DAYS AHEAD.
IT'S THAT THE, IT'S THAT THE FINAL PETITION, RIGHT? AND IT SEEMS TO BE SPELLED OUT ON PAGE 13.
SO I THINK THAT ADDING THE PHRASE WOULDN'T BE CONTRA TO WHAT WE'VE ADOPTED.
IT WOULD JUST CLARIFY, CLARIFY OR NOTIFY COUNSEL.
I THINK THAT'S WORTH ADDING ON THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
UM, BUT IT, JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE THAT THE ELECTION HAS TO BE ORDERED, NOT THE ELECTION DATE.
SO CAN SOMEONE TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT NUMBER THREE SHOULD READ AND THEN WE CAN OFFER THAT AS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE REPORT?
LIKE ON MINE, PAGE 15 SIGNATURE VALIDITY, D UNDER C 1D HAS THAT EXACT LANGUAGE.
SO ADDING TO THOSE 10 WORDS YEAH.
[00:15:01]
AND THIS YOU PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE, BUT I DON'T THINK REFERENDUM SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT C 1D BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT DEADLINES FOR REFERENDUM, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON.IT IS DON'T WANNA CHANGE WHAT WE VOTED ON, AND WE ARE HERE AT THE, AT THE POINT OF HAVING A FINAL REPORT AND HAVING A WEEK TO HAVE HAD INPUT ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE REPORT.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE DO FEEL AS A GROUP THAT WE NEED AN AMENDMENT IN HERE TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET IT IN.
BUT AS FAR AS MAKING SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO AVOID RE DEBATING THOSE ISSUES IF POSSIBLE.
AND SO ON NUMBER THREE WE'RE SAYING REQUIRES A NOTICE OF INTENT AND THE SIGNATURES MUST BE SUBMITTED AS PART OF A PETITION BEFORE, BEFORE THE 90TH DAY, BEFORE THE DATE BY WHICH AN ELECTION MUST BE ORDERED.
I THINK THAT WOULD CLARIFY IT.
I THINK THE WAY IT READS RIGHT NOW, AND APOLOGIES THAT I DIDN'T CATCH THIS, UM, WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS, WHEN JI HAS SENT THIS OUT, UM, THE WAY IT READS RIGHT NOW IS IT LOOKS LIKE THE NOTICE OF INTENT HAS A 90 DAY DEADLINE.
UM, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REFERENCE LIKE DEADLINE FROM WHAT I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S WORTH AMENDING IT FOR.
SO THE PROPOSED AMENDED LANGUAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NUMBER THREE IS ON THE SIGNATURE FORM AND NOTICE OF INTENT FOR PETITIONS.
THIS RECOMMENDATION ADDRESSES SIGNATURE VALIDITY AND REQUIRES A NOTICE OF INTENT AND THAT THE SIGNATURE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE PETITION, THE SIGNATURES WELL, AND THAT THE SIGNATURES SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE PETITION MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE THE, BEFORE THE 90TH DAY, BEFORE THE DATE BY WHICH AN ELECTION MUST BE ORDERED FOR THE NEXT GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE.
IT MIGHT BE EASIEST TO JUST DO IT WITH A FOOTNOTE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD STILL SAY 90 DAY DEADLINE AND THEN A FOOTNOTE SAYING WHAT THAT 90 DAY DEADLINE IS.
AND WE CAN JUST REFER SPECIFICALLY TO THE LANGUAGE AND C 1D DC 1D.
JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR, CLEAR ON THIS.
UM, BUT WE STILL NEED TO MAKE THE REVISION TO NUMBER THREE, THAT TO SEPARATE OUT THE SIGNATURE VALIDITY AND THE NOTICE OF INTENT.
RIGHT? LIKE A, A CLARIFICATION WOULD STILL NEED TO BE MADE TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT THE NOTICE OF INTENT WITH A 90 DAY DEADLINE.
IT'S THE, UM, THE SIGNATURE OF VALIDITY DEADLINE.
I THINK WE COULD SAY NOTICE OF INTENT WITH A 90 DAY DEADLINE FOR PETITION SUBMISSION AND THEN FOOTNOTE.
SO THE AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE IS WE WILL SAY IT, NUMBER THREE WILL SAY, THIS RECOMMENDATION ADDRESSES SIGNATURE VALIDITY AND REQUIRES A NOTICE OF INTENT WITH A 90 DAY DEADLINE FOR PETITION SUBMISSION.
FOOTNOTE TO C 1D MS. RISBY, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT OR CAN WE JUST VOTE AS PART OF THE I THINK YOU, WELL, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE AMENDMENTS ARE GOING FORWARD, ON OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, I THINK YOU CAN JUST VOTE ON THE ENTIRE REPORT AS AMENDED.
UM, SO, BUT THERE MAY BE DISAGREEMENT, JUST CLARIFYING IT'S NOT, YEAH.
SO THIS WAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
ANY OTHER, SO, SO I KNOW THIS IS A BIT LAST MINUTE, BUT I DO WONDER, UM, PAGE 19, REFERENCE TO RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR, WHICH WE MIGHT NOT MAKE THAT PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR TO THE VOTER.
UM, I DO THINK MR. RIDDLE'S, UH, POINT WAS A VALID ONE.
I, IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE MUCH EDITING, BUT I JUST, I THINK, UH, WHERE IT SAYS MUST BE HELD ON REMOVE THE CITY, UH, AND JUST THE NEXT AVAILABLE EVEN YEAR NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE, I IT MUST BE,
[00:20:01]
WELL, CURRENTLY IT SAYS IT MUST BE HELD ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE.BUT I THINK JUST TO GIVE CLARITY TO POTENTIAL VOTERS, WAS THAT A MOTION? WAS THAT A MOTION? YES.
WELL, WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S THE CHAIN OF WHAT, SO I'M, LET ME SO SORRY.
SO, SO REMOVING THE WORD CITIES, UM, AND THEN REMOVING THE WORDS MUNICIPAL GENERAL AND, UH, IN PLACE OF MUNICIPAL GENERAL, UH, USING THE WORDS EVEN YEAR NOVEMBER, NO.
THE, WE ARE CHANGING IT TO THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING THE CHARTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DEBATED BEFORE.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF, I MEAN, AND, AND THE SUBSTANTIVE LANGUAGE, I THINK THAT GOES IN THE CHARTER COULD, COULD CERTAINLY CLARIFY THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD GIVE CLARITY TO THE VOTERS IN THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT IT IS IN FACT OPERATIONALLY EVERY OTHER, I REALIZE THAT THIS, I MEAN, YES, THAT THIS, THIS IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE LANGUAGE THAT IS USED IN THE CHARTER, BUT I'M WONDERING IF FOR THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, I, AND HONESTLY I DO NOT KNOW HOW, HOW I THINK OUR BALLOT LANGUAGE IS NOT GONNA MATTER EVEN IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO ADOPT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
FRANKLY, I AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL.
I, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT SOME, A HILL THAT I'LL DIE ON, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT JUST WOULD ADD IT TO, AND WE DO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND EDIT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR AL COMMISSIONER ANO WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS.
BUT I MEAN, MY THOUGHT IS THAT WE PROVIDE MR. AL'S COMMENTS AND WE CAN AGAIN, MAKE A POINT IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WANNA BRING CLARITY ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.
I THINK THAT THE COMMENTS ARE FINE AND SEND THEM FOR INTELLIGIBILITY.
IT'S MORE THAT THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION MEANS SOMETHING IN THE CHARTER PRESENTLY.
AND SO WE'VE DISCUSSED IT THAT WAY.
IF, IF WE WANT TO GO BACK AND SAY, LET'S, THE, YOUR PRECISE, YOUR PRECISE LANGUAGE IS, MUST BE HELD IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE EVEN YEAR NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE.
AND, AND AGAIN, JUST FOR THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE MODIFY THE CHARTER TO SAY THAT MM-HMM.
I JUST THINK THAT IT READS MORE CLEARLY FOR VOTERS.
I I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THAT INJECTS MORE CONFUSION.
MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE HAS A SPECIFIC LEGAL MEANING THAT THAT PHRASE, AND ALTHOUGH THE DESCRIPTION THAT YOU'RE OFFERING FOR THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, I THINK IN MOST CASES DESCRIBES THAT SAME THING.
UM, AND SO I I WELCOME THE IDEA THAT, THAT WE SUBMIT, UH, MR. DEL'S COMMENTS TO COUNSEL AS WELL OR INCLUDE THEM.
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THE IDEA BEHIND HIS SUGGESTION, BUT I, I FEAR THAT CHANGING THAT PARTICULAR LANGUAGE IS GONNA BE WORSE AND MAKE THINGS MORE KIND OF, UH, LEGALLY CONFUSING.
BECAUSE THAT HAS A SPECIFIC LEGAL MEANING.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TIE OURSELF IN KNOTS OVER THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SET BY COUNSEL IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT A LATER DATE.
UM, AND THIS IS THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WE ADOPTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UM, YEAH, I ACKNOWLEDGE, WELL, JUST TO REVISIT, SO THE, THE REASON YOU GOT THAT REACTION WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EDIFICE BUILT HERE BASED ON LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER, AND IT'S BASED ON WHAT A MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE MEANS.
I TOTALLY HEAR THE POINT THAT TO THE TYPICAL PERSON, IT'S LIKE, WHAT IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
TOTAL VERY SYMPATHETIC, EMPATHETIC.
UM, IT CAN BE VERY IMPENETRABLE.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE DISCUSSING, I THINK MY REACTION WAS LIKE, OOH, WAIT, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO DEBATE THAT TIME TO BE LIKE, IS THAT EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN? I THINK SO.
BUT MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION DATE IS VERY TIED TO WHEN WE DO THE HIGH TURNOUT ELECTIONS.
UH, AND WHEN WE DO THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS, UM, IF, IF SOME, IF A MAJORITY OF THE BODY IS, IF THERE'S A SECOND AND PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT, I, I, I DON'T WANNA STAND IN THE WAY I, I THINK MY INITIAL REACTION WAS IT THIS, IT MEANS SOMETHING AND WE'RE CHANGING THE MEANING.
I AT THIS, AT THIS POINT, I'M LIKE, I DON'T WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, AGAIN, I'M NOT SUGGESTING, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT THE, THE OPTIMAL TIME TO BRING IT UP.
I, IT STRUCK ME AS A, A MOD MODEST CHANGE.
I MEAN, A MODEST LANGUAGE CHANGE THAT ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME THING.
AND ALSO, UM, I, YES, I, I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT A FEW YEARS AGO IT WOULD NOT HAVE MEANT THE SAME THING BEFORE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS MOVE ON.
[00:25:01]
I THINK I HAD A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE WHEN WE HAD THEM SEPARATE.IT'S JUST THAT WHEN YOU COME, BUT WE COMBINE IT WITH THE CHARTER, THE, THE SPECIFIC, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SAYS NEXT MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION OR PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION.
AND SO THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT SORT OF, I WANT TO SLIP INTO WHAT THAT LANGUAGE IS TO REDUCE THE VOLATILITY AROUND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE OS.
UM, AND SO THAT'S PART OF HOW THAT GOT IN THERE.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD THINK IF IT'S A DIVISIVE ISSUE, I CERTAINLY WOULD, WOULD WANT TO PASS ON IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, I I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, ESSENTIAL.
AND SO IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE, I MEAN, I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA BE MORE OR LESS EVENLY DIVIDED, IF WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT IN THE, I'M KEEPING NOTES ON WHAT WE CAN PRE, WHAT WE SHOULD PRESENT ONTO COUNCIL.
AND IF WE FEEL, IF WE WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS CLEAR, PARTICULARLY ON THIS ISSUE WITH MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION AND THAT WE WERE GIVEN SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER.
I MEAN, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD KIND OF COMPROMISE POINT.
BUT LET'S JUST ALSO BE CLEAR THAT LIKE THE CLARITY PRESCRIBED AND RECOMMENDATIONS WE HEARD FROM THE CITIZENRY IS NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE THAT IS ALREADY PROPOSED.
LIKE WHAT IS CLEAR IS SUBJECTIVE TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
AND SO IN PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSED BATTLE LANGUAGE FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE HAD TO LOOK AT HOW COURTS LATER INTERPRET WHAT WE PUT ON THE BALLOT, IF AT SOME POINT WE GET INTO A DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT OR MEANS, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON CONFUSED OR NOT TO SAY MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION, BECAUSE THEN IT WILL NOT, IT WILL NOT BE AS IF WE WERE HIDING, THEIR INTENT WAS TO ENABLE COUNSEL TO PICK BETWEEN THE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION AND THE, UH, PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE CHARTER CHANGE.
AND SO IT, IT, THE PERSPECTIVE I ENCOURAGE US TO TAKE IS ALSO ABOUT THE DEFENSIBILITY OF WHAT IS ACTED UPON BY THE ELECTORATE.
IF CHALLENGED, NOT PURELY ITS INTELLIGIBILITY TO ANY INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
IF SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, IF THE EXPECTATION IS I'M GOING TO READ A BALLOT QUESTION AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS TO UNDERSTAND, THAT IS A VERY HIGH STANDARD.
AND SO I WOULD NOT SAY, PLEASE, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE DON'T SACRIFICE OUR DEFENSIBILITY IN FRONT OF THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE AIM WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE OUT OF OUR PERCEPTION THAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
UM, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THAT TERM WAS IMPORTANT WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED IT.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO GO BEYOND THAT.
IF, IF, IF, UH, FOLKS GRASP WHAT I'M SAYING.
COMMISSIONER GREENBERG, IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ON THE VERY NEXT PAGE THERE'S ALTERNATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS AND THAT THE ALTERNATIVE WORDING COULD BE ADDED AS AN ALTERNATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OPTION.
I THINK WE CAN JUST SEND THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS WE HEARD FROM THE CITIZEN, READ TO THE DRAFTERS AND, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL OR YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT'S MISSING IS THIS CONCERN THAT IT MAY BE A FOUR YEAR GAP BETWEEN CHARTER COMMISSION, BETWEEN CHARTER AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE THERE, THOSE MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE NOT EXACTLY EVERY TWO YEARS.
SO WE DO SAY WE HAVE THAT TABLE, REMEMBER, AND IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS, I GUESS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THAT YOU COULDN'T DO IT WHAT WE THINK OF AS TWO YEARS LATER.
SO LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE REPORT, WE DO SAY THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE BELOW IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND EDIT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE COULD ADD AND COUNSEL BY COUNCIL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.
JUST TO CLARIFY, COUNCIL OF COURSE, KNOWN THING,
BUT I, I THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S THE EVEN NOVEMBERS BY HAVING AN ALTERNATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OPTION.
I, I DON'T FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT INCLUDING IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK IT KIND OF MAYBE MUDDLES IT A BIT IF WE INCLUDE IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE IMPLEMENTATION AS OPPOSED TO THE FIRST ONE.
[00:30:01]
THINK THAT A COURT WOULD, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE THAT A COURT WOULD NECESSARILY STRIKE, UH, THIS DOWN IF VOTERS ELECTED SELECTED EVERY OTHER NOVEMBER VERSUS EVEN YEAR.BUT, BUT I ALSO, AGAIN, IF IT'S A DIVISIVE ISSUE AND I SEE THAT IT IS, I'M HAPPY TO PASS ON THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS COUNSEL IS GONNA GET, UH, CONTACT FOR THIS COMMISSIONER.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR ABILITY IS TO ADD LIKE EXPLANATORY CLAUSES UNDER STATE LAW INTO BALLOT LANGUAGE.
BUT COULD IT, COULD, WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS WITH LIKE A COMMA AND A, WHICH IN AUSTIN IS CURRENTLY EVERY EVEN YEAR, NOVEMBER, I THINK THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNDERSTANDS ALL OF OUR CONCERNS AND WHEN THEY'RE DRAFTING THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, IF THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THIS, THAT THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED APPROPRIATELY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT HEARING ANY KIND OF SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REEB DEBATED AND KIND OF REOPENED HERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FAIRLY HOT BUTTON ISSUE.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE APPROVED.
I THINK IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT THIS LANGUAGE IS GONNA CHANGE BE BEFORE IT GETS TO THE VOTERS IF IT GETS TO THE VOTERS.
AND I THINK THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAR HERE, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE MADE CLEAR TO COUNCIL AS WELL AS TO WHAT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE HERE SHOULD BE.
UM, AND JUST A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, DID WE KIND OF LEAVE IT THAT IT COULD END UP BEING FOUR YEARS? BECAUSE IN ONE YEAR, THIS YEAR THE ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 5TH AND TWO YEARS FROM NOW, THE ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 3RD, AND THAT'S TECHNICALLY NOT TWO YEARS LATER.
OH, WE HAD A DIFFERENT ATTORNEY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I'M GONNA TURN TO YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT THAT'S TECHNICALLY NOT TWO YEARS.
AND THEN IT COULD OH YES, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE, WE SAY LIKE 3, 365 DAYS TIMES, TIMES TWO.
I THINK SOMEWHERE IN THIS REPORT THAT SHOULD BE CLEAR, BUT IT'S NOT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE REPORT CHAIR? I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT.
UM, JUST REALLY QUICKLY MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU MAKE THAT MOTION, IT'S TO VERSION TWO OF THE REPORT.
I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT AS AMENDED VERSION TWO.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION.
I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPERIMENT IN SAUSAGE MAKING
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF WORK.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.
AND I DON'T, UH, UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS TO PROPOSE ANOTHER MEETING, UM,
UM, MS. FRISBEE, WOULD YOU REMIND US IF THERE'S ANY ACTION NEEDED UNDER OUR RESOLUTION OR ARE WE FORMALLY DISBANDED AFTER, NOW THAT YOU'VE A APPRO APPROVED THE MOTION, YOU ARE NO LONGER, YOU ARE NOW DISBANDED.
NO, NO FORMAL ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.
UM, WE WILL BE PRESENTING ON APRIL 16TH, UM, TO COUNSEL.
WE'LL BE PRESENTING ALONG WITH, UM, THE CITY STAFF.
I WOULD WELCOME ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME, AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I'M GONNA BE PUTTING TOGETHER A PRESENTATION AND TRY TO KEEP IT VERY HIGH LEVEL.
MY GOAL IS TO KIND OF NOT GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION, BUT JUST TO HIT ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT BECAUSE THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY ONE THAT WAS HOTLY DEBATED.
I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT OUR OUTREACH AND THEN I'VE TAKEN SOME NOTES TONIGHT AS TO OTHER ISSUES THAT I'LL MAKE SURE, UM, TO MENTION TO THE COUNCIL WHEN WE PRESENT TO THEM.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU ALL WANT ME SPECIFICALLY TO MENTION, PLEASE LET, IS THAT PRESENTATION AT, UM, A WORK SESSION OR? 'CAUSE THE 16TH IS A TUESDAY.
IT'S NOT A WORK SESSION, IT'S NOT ACTUAL COUNSEL.
AND WHEN WE GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE TIMING AND I'LL, UM, WE'LL SEND EMAILS TO THE CITY, TO YOUR, ALL TO YOUR CITY EMAILS, AND I'LL ALSO SEND OUT A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION, UM, FROM THE COMMISSION AHEAD OF THAT FOR FEEDBACK.
SO PLEASE DO CHECK YOUR EMAILS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THOSE, UM, SEND IT TO US.
DO YOU KNOW THE TIME OF THE PRESENTATION? I DO NOT.
[00:35:01]
BEGINS AT NINE AND DEPENDING ON IF THERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, UM, THEY MAY TAKE THOSE, BUT WE CAN, UH, REQUEST THAT THEY HEAR THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK.IS IS IT A WORK SESSION OR A YES, IT'S A WORK SESSION.
COMMISSIONER GREENBERG, BUT AT A WORK SESSION, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WILL NOT BE FREE TO SPEAK THE PRE THE PRESENT.
IT'S A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL ON THE FINAL REPORT AND IT'S JUST THAT THERE IS NO ACTION BEING TAKEN.
UM, SO SINCE THERE WAS ACTION TAKEN TO APPROVE THIS REPORT, THAT'S MEANING THAT THE CHAIR AND I'M NOT SURE WHO ELSE WILL YEAH, THAT'S, OUR COMMISSION IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND SO IF THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONCLUDED AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT, I DON'T FEEL ANY OWNERSHIP OF HER
SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE JUST LET ME KNOW AND THEN I'LL WORK WITH MS. VY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATELY ON THE AGENDA.
AND BECAUSE IT'S A BRIEFING, THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, WE HAVE NO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND SO, UM, UNLESS ANYONE IS OPPOSED.
OH, COMMISSIONER DWYER, I JUST WANNA THANK OUR CHAIR FOR ABLE AND FAIRLY LEADING US THROUGH THE LAST MONTHS.
UM, AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE REALLY GOOD WORK.
I'M EXCITED TO SHOW IT TO COUNCIL, SO I HOPE YOU ALL WILL COME, SO I'LL BE THERE.