HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - Special - 2/12/2003CITY OF LUBBOCK
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 12, 2003
8:00 A. M.
The City Council of the City of Lubbock, Texas met in special session on the 12th
day of February, 2003, in the Committee Room 103, 1625 13th Street, Lubbock,
Texas at 8:00 A. M.
8:12 A. M. CITY COUNCIL CONVENED
Committee Room 103
Present: Mayor Marc McDougal, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Hernandez, Council
Member Tom Martin, Council Member T.J. Patterson
Absent: Council Members Boren, Cooke and Morrison.
Mayor McDougal called the meeting to order at 8:12 A. M.
The first item considered was Item 4.
(L) Receive report on the audit of APCOA.
This item was considered following Item 8.
The City Council requested that the City Attorney initiate an audit of the
City's contract with APCOA. APCOA was awarded the parking contract
at the Lubbock International Airport.
City Attorney Anita Burgess introduced John Burdette and Mildred Cox.
She publicly thanked Mark Earle, Director of Aviation, and his staff for
their cooperation during the course of the audit. She recognized Todd
McKee, Chairman of the Airport Board, for providing his counsel and
guidance during this time. Reports, by Mildred Cox with regard to the
oversight and management of the contract, and by John Burdette,
Robinson, Burdette and Martin, with regard to the financial and
accounting aspects of the parking arrangement were provided to Council.
Council Member Boren asked about the cash long/cash short and tracking
of the vehicles and tickets. John Burdette stated that one year, there were
more tickets than vehicles tracked and another year, more vehicles than
tickets.
Ms. Burgess stated that each day there were small variances in the
vehicles and tickets. But when you add all of that over a three-year
period, they were approximately $1,600 cash long. The thought is that
neither the City nor APCOA included cash/long in their reports.
Ms. Burgess stated that one of the significant lessons that she would offer
to all of us is that as we look at letting our contracts, in the future, the City
needs to be careful with cost reimbursement contracts. We are currently
in a cost reimbursement arrangement, which we didn't bid, we didn't send
out RFPs for and in doing our research with regard to this audit, we found
there have been substantial problems with other airports throughout this
country with regard to no -bid cost reimbursement arrangements.
Ms. Burgess made recommendations for all of the future contracts as
follows:
A) Be very cautious; be aware of those bids that are out of line with
the other bids, as in this situation.
B) Be cautious of cost reimbursement contracts.
C) Be careful in drafting the contracts. Be sure essential terms are
included and if there is a term that is not necessary, it is not
included. All staff needs to remember that they do not have the
authority to deviate from the terms that have been set by the City
Council.
Work Session City Council Minutes
February 12, 2003
Page 102
D) We believe there should be a clear assignment of responsibility
with regard to oversight of each of the City's contracts and a clear
delegation in writing of that authority and that responsibility.
E) We would encourage City staff to be familiar with all the terms of
each contract in the City and ensure that there is absolute and
complete compliance with those terms. Make sure that the
contractor is aware of those terms and if they are not complying,
bring it to their attention and ensure that they do comply with the
terms of the contract.
F) Calculate revenues very carefully and closely. If contract penalties
apply, they will raise the bar on the contract performance. Ms.
Burgess recommended that we apply these.
G) For each and every one of the contracts, a tickler system should be
set up for the deadline set forth. Ensure that the deadline is
properly met with regard to every contract in the City.
Mayor McDougal asked about the possibilities of a parking garage and
some federal funding options now out there. He asked if it would be Ms.
Burgess' recommendation that the City remain with APCOA on a month -
to -month basis, until such time we know which direction we are going to
head. Ms. Burgess stated that with regard to the City Attorney's staff, they
do not want to step on the toes of those line managers. We want them to
have maximum flexibility to do their job and to do what they need to do
with regard to all of their work. Ms. Burgess recommended that Council
ask the Airport staff and Airport Board to come back with a
recommendation on how to proceed in light of the findings of this audit.
Mayor McDougal stated that he thought that in the future, the City might
operate the airport parking, or possibly contract that with Citibus. Citibus
has a number of smaller vehicles parked and not being used. With the
federal funding cuts they are seeing, this might be an avenue to use to get
some revenue in order to not cut some bus service. He asked that this be
looked into and find out our options.
Council Member Hernandez asked Ms. Burgess to go to the slide entitled
"City Council Initiated Audit" on August 29. He asked her to give a brief
answer to each one of those.
Ms. Burgess stated the following:
A) Why was there no rebidding of the contract?
Ms. Burgess stated this is two -fold. One on the legal side, and one
on the operational side.
With regard to the operational side, it was an opportunity for the
airport to obtain some federal money with regard to a secure
parking garage. The airport wanted an opportunity to pursue that
before they made a long-term decision as to how they wanted to
handle the parking contract.
With regard to the legal side, these contracts, provisions in the
local government code, require us to go out on RFPs and to bid
certain items. If we are paying out funds in general, we must bid
or issue an RFP for those goods or services. This is not a situation
where we are receiving revenues. We are receiving revenues, but
technically this is a situation where we wouldn't absolutely have to
go out and bid it. So it was not illegal not to bid. She wanted to
make sure that was clearly understood. However, the Purchasing
Department will tell you that much of the time, we can get a
product and we can get a better price, if we will use these
procedures. Even if we don't have to legally. You can see the
struggle as the contractors set those numbers forth for you to try to
get in and get that contract. It's a healthy way to get the best
product.
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Work Session City Council Minutes
February 12, 2003
Page 103
B) Was the City accurately paid?
Under the old contract, after the contract modification and in light
of the caveats talked about in this Council meeting, Ms. Burgess
stated, they have issued the opinion that they believe that the City
was paid substantially correctly.
However, it is her opinion that the City does need to strengthen its
contract compliance and the oversight of this particular contract.
Council Member Hernandez again asked her to define this from a
layman's perspective and define it in a dollar manner.
John Burdette stated that APCOA overpaid the City of Lubbock $1,760.
Council Member Hernandez asked how much did the audit process cost
us?
Ms. Burgess said she would get those numbers for Council.
Council Member Hernandez asked Ms. Burgess if there has been
substantial compliance by APCOA, or do we have a breach of contract
situation?
Ms. Burgess stated that in her opinion, there have been areas of the
contract where there was not compliance.
Council Member Hernandez then asked did it rise to the level of breach of
contract and if so, can we assess them all this time, effort and money as
part of the City's damages.
Ms. Burgess stated that the areas where she had concerns included the
failure to provide the CPA statement, the age of the vehicles and several
other items concerned her as well. There are some provisions written into
the contract, which would allow the City to assess penalties. She stated
she didn't see that we were actually venturing into any of these areas with
regard to those matters she had concern over. She didn't see that we were
in the penalty provision.
Ms. Burgess stated there was some breach of contract. That contract
period has ended, but it would be looked at.
She then went to the question of how much money the City lost upon
renegotiating the APCOA contract at midterm. Those minimum annual
guarantees were reset reducing the total over the five-year period by
$849,000. After the City obtained the new parking equipment, it lost
roughly $500,000.
Council Member Martin recalled the recommendation points stated by Ms.
Burgess and stated that he was very concerned about the lack of airport
management. He mentioned that those recommendation points could be
printed on a poster chart and placed in every office in the City. They
could also apply to WTMPA.
Council Member Hernandez stated the Legal Department needs to be more
proactive in reminding the City departments as to the parameters in which
they work. Especially from a legal perspective.
He mentioned if there is a problem with management at the airport, the
City Manager should make decisions in that area. He feels Council has a
management team in place, which is responsible enough to take care of
that.
(2.) Receive report on the audit of the West Texas Municipal Power
Agency.
The WTMPA oversight committee has essentially concluded its meetings
and is in final draft stages. Final support documents are also pulling
together and should be ready for distribution to Council Monday
afternoon. At the Mayor's request, this item had been placed on this
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February 12, 2003
Page 104
agenda for discussion purposes. As documents were distributed to
Council late Tuesday, it was decided that to wait on this item.
City Manager Bob Cass stated the Committee thought the information
would be available by the end of the day. He also wanted to add staff
reports and interim audit reports and get this to Council by Thursday. He
also recognized that, at that time, this would be a public document and he
would go ahead and release it to the media.
Council Member Boren thought if this was released to the media and you
wait a week for discussion, that you have a week of speculation. His
suggestion was to meet on the same day this is released.
Mayor McDougal suggested that the earliest time would be Friday.
City Manager Bob Cass stated they could post it on the City's website and
take care of it at the next Council meeting. He also mentioned he
understood Mr. Boren's concerns and respects them. He stated he would
be happy to make himself available to the news media.
Council Member Patterson stated that he wanted to take time to look and
see what is there. The problems are there. So let him get his mind clear
on what is there. He did not want to rush into anything.
It was the general consensus to post the committee's report on the website
and hear it at the next Council meeting.
City Manager Bob Cass said they recognized they had some work to do
just in terms of going back and making sure the contract compliance
processes are appropriate. He has tasked Assistant City Manager Quincy
White with putting together a system to make sure this is done. Not only
to instill credibility with the public, but to take care of employees as well.
He stated he didn't think they served the employees well by not giving
them the tools and the capabilities of doing that. He is looking at
expanding some contract auditing. Although this will require some
shifting of resources, he wanted the Council to be aware of that.
He stated he has a lot of confidence in the City staff that we can go in and
get this system up and running. He wants it to be as open as possible with
everybody. He stated he appreciates the Council's comments and wanted
to assure them they are aware of this and working on it and want to take
care of the employees. But more importantly, they want to take care of the
public trust that has been placed in our hands.
Council Member Patterson stated that we have a good staff. We have
some problems, but he has seen worse around this state. He appreciates
what staff has done and what they are doing. It's easy to knock anything
or tear anything up. But it makes sense to bring things up. We need to
raise our staff up. No matter what the public says, he appreciates them.
10:20 A.M. COUNCIL RECESSED.
10:39 A.M. COUNCIL RECONVENED IN WORK SESSION
Mayor McDougal was away from the dais.
(3.) Budget/financial overview. Beverly Hodges, Director of Finance;
Melissa Trevino, Budget Manager
Given this Council's interest in both budgetary and financial oversight, the
Director of Finance and the Budget Manager have been asked to make a
monthly presentation to Council. This involves an overview of the
balance sheet/income statement by the Director of Finance and the
monthly budget report by the Budget Manager. Council was asked to
provide staff with some direction concerning the format and the content of
these reports for future meetings.
Note that, in light of sales tax trends and natural gas prices, a freeze has
been placed on hiring and on certain capital projects.
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Page 105
Beverly Hodges, Director of Finance and Melissa Trevino, Budget
Manager, presented staff comments concerning general funds and
enterprise funds such as airport, sewer, solid waste, storm water and the
water fund.
Council Member Boren spoke concerning the layouts. He asked Ms.
Hodges to have categories more detailed, such as showing dollars spent
month -to -month for the current fiscal year; not just what percent of the
budget has been spent. He asked that this be done for the expense side
and also for the revenue side. He stated he would like this to be the same
with the enterprise funds as well as Lubbock Power & Light.
Council Member Martin asked for access to the Financial System for
Council to be able to work with.
Council Members Boren and Martin asked that when any unbudgeted item
request is put on agenda, that they make sure to identify where money
would be coming from.
Tommy Gonzalez, Assistant City Manager, discussed Capital Projects
status report.
Mayor McDougal returned to the meeting.
Council Member Martin congratulated Mr. Cass and staff for the Capital
Projects report. He also suggested that the same process be used for
reports on other funds (i.e. water, sewer, etc.). He asked that this
information be given to Council on a quarterly basis.
Council Member Hernandez requested that this information be made
available to the public, either through the library system or website, so that
they can look it up.
Melissa Trevino, Budget Manager, gave a brief breakout of projects.
The next item considered was Item 6.
(4.) Discuss dates for March City Council work session and regular
meetings. Bob Cass, City Manager
This was the first item considered.
Several City Council members have indicated that they plan to attend the
Big 12 basketball tournament that is being held the week of March loth.
Staff checked Council calendars for alternate dates for the work session
and regular Council meeting originally scheduled for March 12th and
March 13th. It was recommended that the work session be held on
Wednesday, March 5th and the regular Council meeting on Thursday,
March 6th. However, Council Member Patterson will leave early on
March 6th as he departs that morning for the NLC meeting.
A possible alternative to the March 5th-6th meetings would be to have the
regular Council meeting on March 5th, so that Mr. Patterson would be
able to attend, and schedule the work session either on March 6th (again,
Mr. Patterson would be absent) or on Wednesday, March 26th (the day
before the regularly scheduled second meeting in March). Note the week
of March 17th is Spring Break and several Council Members will be out
of town that week.
Staff recommended March 5th for regular Council meeting and March 6th
for work session. However, it would be necessary to check schedules with
Council Members Boren and Morrison.
(5.) Presentation on the proposed budget calendar for FY 2003-04.
Melissa Trevino, Budget & Research (10 minutes)
The calendar proposed presenting the Enterprise Fund Budgets to the City
Council separate from the General Fund Budget. The calendar reflected a
July 22-24 Council presentation on the Enterprise Fund Budgets and an
August 11-15 Council presentation on the General Fund/Internal Service
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Funds Budgets. The City receives the Lubbock Central Appraisal District
property valuations on July 25.
The Capital Projects will be presented to the City Council early this year
and are scheduled for the May 6-7 work session. However, identification
of funding and any follow-up questions on capital will need to be
addressed at the July/August presentations.
Calendar Highlights:
• May 6-7 Work session on Revised FY `02-`03 & FY `03-`04
Proposed Capital (May 8 and May 22 will be first and second
readings)
• July 22-24 Enterprise Fund Presentation to Council (July 14
proposed budget distribution to the City Council)
• August 11-15 General Fund/Internal Service Fund Presentation to
Council (August 4 proposed budget distribution to the City
Council). It was recommended that this be moved to August t 4-7.
August 18 File budget with City Secretary's office.
August 22 and 24 Advertise tax rate and public hearing.
• September 4 Public Hearing (City Council meeting moved from
September 11) (Public Hearing on budget and tax rate)
• September 18 City Council Meeting (second reading on budget
and tax rate)
City Manager Bob Cass stated that in past years, the July and August
Council meetings were strictly for budget items.
Please note that a budget must be filed with the City Secretary at least 15
days prior to the public hearing and the budget must be on file with the
City Secretary at least 30 days prior to adopting a tax rate.
City Council Members should make the City Manager aware of any
conflicts with scheduled work session dates for both Enterprise and
General Fund presentations. These dates will be confirmed on Council
Member calendars after today.
Melissa Trevino, Budget & Research, presented the proposed budget
calendar for FY 2003-04.
Mayor McDougal asked about the time frame for canvassing the votes.
This was brought up as a possibility to allow time for the new Council
Member to be sworn in and therefore participate in the budget hearings of
May 5`h and 6`f'.
City Attorney Anita Burgess informed Council that statute provides the
votes will be canvassed not earlier than the third day nor later than the
sixth day after the election.
The Mayor requested that canvassing of the votes and the swearing -in
ceremony be scheduled for May 6t'.
The next item considered was Item 8.
( 6.) Discuss City of Lubbock Risk Fund. Mary House, Director of Human
Resources (30 minutes)
This item was considered following Item 3.
Presentation was designed to convey to Council the status of the City of
Lubbock Risk Fund and included:
• Origination of the Risk Fund
• Current Funding Levels
• Historical Fund Uses
• Recent Philosophical Shift of Fund Uses
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• Direction to Actuary
• Broker Savings
Mary House, Director of Human Resources, informed Council of past
philosophy on use of this fund and asked direction for future uses to be
incorporated into the next actuarial study.
Council Member Martin asked if an actuary was going to come back and
give us a scenario where we need to double our undesignated reserves in
risk management funds.
Ms. House stated they would probably come back and say we need this
money at this level of comfort. Then it is up to Council to decide what is
our level of comfort.
Council Member Martin said that level of comfort is not necessarily
talking about recommendations on deductibles or anything of that nature.
Ms. House answered that this would be simply what our undesignated
reserve should be for all of these liabilities that we have no coverage on.
Council Member Boren asked if the actuary came back and said we are
60% or 70% above target, would we be expected to make that difference
up in a fiscal year?
Leisa Hutcheson, Risk Management, stated that would be a goal, a target
for us, with Council approval, to collect in the manner they have
previously done and achieve that goal over a period of time.
Ms. House said they would ask the actuary for help with the cost
allocations.
11:30 A. M. CITY COUNCIL RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
City Council/City Manager's Conference Room
1:18 P. M. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING RECONVENED
Committee Room 103
Present: Mayor Marc McDougal, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Hernandez, Council
Member Gary O. Boren, Council Member Tom Martin, Council
Member T. J. Patterson; Bob Cass, City Manager; Anita Burgess,
City Attorney; and Rebecca Garza, City Secretary
Absent: Council Members Cooke and Morrison
(7.) Discuss City Treasurer position.
Mike Cunningham has been working with a subcommittee of the group
charged with the responsibility of defining the City Treasurer position.
Mr. Cunningham gave the Council a status report.
Mr. Cunningham introduced Kevin McMann, Chairman of the
subcommittee and Dr. Robert Freeman.
The committee has met four times and conducted interviews with
numerous and informed, interested parties before making
recommendations for an audit committee. There were several goals they
tried to accomplish in making these recommendations.
This committee identified three areas to recommend. First is the audit
committee. Second is internal audit committee. Third is the treasurer
position. In addition, they recommended restructuring and reformatting of
the existing finance function within the City.
The purpose of an audit committee is to handle relations between the City
of Lubbock and its external auditors, including the engagement letter,
which is the contractual agreement between the City and its external
auditors. That engagement letter is the document that defines the scope of
the examination that the auditors are going to use in order to examine the
finance statements of the City.
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Another function is to direct the external auditor to examine areas of the
City's finances that it deems to need heightened scrutiny. It will hear
reports from external auditors and communicate those results to the City
Council. The committee recommends that due to the sensitivity of the
deliberations, that deliberations of the audit committee be held privately as
opposed to publicly. In making that recommendation, we considered the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. What that act did was to strengthen and put
teeth in relations between the audit committee, that is a subcommittee of
the Board of Directors, and its external auditors. It recommends that the
audit committee of a public company be done privately because of
complaints being made to the audit committee that must be received
confidentially in order to ensure that they get there. It must be done
anonymously in order to ensure that there is encouragement on the part of
people who work for the City to make those reports to the audit
committee. Therefore, deliberations of the committee should be done in
private. Recommendations would be done in public to the City Council.
The committee should be comprised of seven members. The chairman
would be appointed by the Mayor and would be a City Council Member.
The other six members would be appointed individually by the City
Council and would be public members. It is recommended that no
member of the audit committee would be an existing employee or former
employee of the City of Lubbock, any of its departments, or any of its
divisions. Essentially, this would need to be someone with a financial
background and have an understanding of financial statements, what an
engagement letter is, and what an internal auditor does and is expected to
do. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a CPA, but somebody that has some
extensive business experience.
Council Member Hernandez asked if "in private" just applied to City
employees or to other people as well.
Mr. Cunningham stated this covered anyone. Regular meetings would be
public, but they would like the authority to go into executive session; this
being an exception to most board or committees.
Council will be forthcoming with guidelines concerning the executive
session request.
Additionally, they recommend strengthening the internal audit function
within the City of Lubbock, so that the internal auditor is reporting
directly to CFO/Assistant City Manager and also indirectly to the audit
committee. Internal auditor would be responsible for both internal audits
and financial audits. Those performance audits would be things along the
line of contract compliance, environmental compliance and any other area
that might on the part of the City Council or City Manager be deemed to
be necessary.
They also recommend the reestablishment of the office of Treasurer for
the City of Lubbock. Under that position, they recommend that it report to
the Mayor and City Council directly. The Treasurer would be
encompassed and empowered to handle the offices of handling the
municipal debt, the treasury function, handling investments, bond issues,
cash planning and control, monitoring cash flow projections both from a
revenue and expense perspective, and advising the City Council on any
special projects.
Council Member Patterson stated that he disagreed with this posture
City Attorney Anita Burgess spoke concerning the Council's potential
appointed positions. She stated that the Council has four: City Manager,
City Attorney, City Secretary and they have just taken the City Treasurer
position off the shelf and breathed life back into with an ordinance that the
Council passed a couple of months ago. This structure proposed here is
accurate according to the charter. The Treasurer does report directly to the
Work Session City Council Minutes
February 12, 2003
Page 109
Mayor and the City Council. Certainly, the Council does have ample
authority to organize City departments as it sees fit. It has that authority.
Ms. Burgess stated that her recommendation is not to make the Audit
Committee a subcommittee of City Council. Put no more than one
Council Member on that committee. Do not make this a Council
subcommittee. Just make a working group of citizens "at -large" or
however you want to make those appointments.
Council Member Hernandez asked if Council did something illegal by
passing the ordinance some time ago getting rid of the City Treasurer?
Even setting that aside, even under the current charter that requires a
treasurer, that doesn't dictate that this Council has to fill this position.
Ms. Burgess stated that Chapter 1, Article 9, Section 22 of the Charter
states that the City Council can create and consolidate such appointive
offices. Such appointive offices being those that belong to the Council
and may divide the administration of the City affairs into such
departments as it may deem advisable and may discontinue any such
appointive officers or departments at its discretion.
Mayor McDougal requested that this item be continued until Thursday
until six Council Members are present.
Council Member Hernandez requested that staff prepare a chart for
Thursday indicating what the Committee is explaining.
Mayor McDougal suggested that the WTMPA report be heard Friday,
February 21, 2003. City Manager Bob Cass was asked to coordinate
everyone's schedule.
This item was continued until February 13, 2003.
(8.) City Council goal setting session. Bob Cass, City Manager; City
Council.
This item was considered following Item 5, on Wednesday, February
12, 2003.
Council had indicated an interest in holding a formal goal setting session.
Staff asked for direction as to any items Council would like to see
developed for such a session.
City Manager Bob Cass suggested not holding this item until a full
Council was present.
Council Member Hernandez suggested having input from Council, but
also from people dealing with the day-to-day issues.
City Manager Bob Cass stated he would like to sit down with each
Council Member and send out a menu of what he has heard that needs to
be discussed.
Mayor McDougal suggested taking the April 9`h work session day for this
discussion.
8:28 A.M. COUNCIL RECESSED.
8:49 A.M. COUNCIL RECONVENED IN WORK SESSION
Council Member Boren was present for following item.
The next item considered was Item 1.
3:28 P. M. COUNCIL RECESSED FOR THE DAY
There being no further business to come before Council, Council Member
Hernandez made a motion to continue; Council Member Patterson
seconded the motion. Motion carried: 5 Yeas, 0 Nays.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2003
1:03 P. M. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING RECONVENED
Committee Room 103
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Work Session City Council Minutes
February 12, 2003
Page 110
Present: Mayor Marc McDougal, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Hernandez, Council
Member Gary O. Boren, Council Member Frank W. Morrison,
Council Member Tom Martin, Council Member T. J. Patterson; Bob
Cass, City Manager; Anita Burgess, City Attorney; and Rebecca
Garza, City Secretary
Absent: Council Member Cooke
Mayor McDougal called the meeting to order at 1:03 P. M.
The first item considered was Item 7, which was continued from
Wednesday, February 12, 2003.
Council Member Morrison asked Mike Cunningham to recap February 12,
2003's Item 7.
Mr. Cunningham went over the difference between the two models he had
explained in the previous session.
Essentially, the difference between the two models is the position of the
City Treasurer. Creation of an audit committee would deal with
relationships between City Council and its external and internal auditors.
Mr. Cunningham finally recommended that the existing finance structure
be reorganized and be put under the CFO/Assistant City Manager position.
Council Member Hernandez summarized that some Council Members saw
a need to continue on with a City Treasurer's position for reasons that the
City Charter called for it and if you wanted a change, the Charter must be
changed.
On the opposite side, there were Council Members who believed that
maybe it was an expense that wasn't necessary. If the functions are
already being performed under some of these other offices, then there is
no need to incur that additional expense. There was a consensus
throughout those present, that what we want to do is ensure there is
accountability; that people are held responsible for the finances of this
City. Ultimately, that being the Mayor and City Council.
Council Member Hernandez stated he was in favor of second model
(without City Treasurer). He also stated three options representing his
feeling. They are:
A. Leave position
B. Call Charter election to leave vacant
C. Make it inactive again through ordinance.
Mike Cunningham stated his committee would have recommended second
option (without treasurer) if doing it at free will.
Council Member Martin asked Ms. Burgess to again read Chapter 1,
Article 9, Section 22 of the City Charter. He stated that all were looking
for accountability. He also stated that he had a problem with the internal
auditor working for the City Manager. He is not ready to abandon the idea
of a City Treasurer and wants a detail of the make-up of the Audit
Committee.
Mike Cunningham stated the Audit Committee to encompass
confidentiality for auditor to go to the committee. He feels the committee
accomplishes these concerns.
Council Member Patterson stated that he feels the City Manager is "top
dog". He feels comfortable with the posture now, which is a City
Manager government.
Council Member Morrison agreed with Council Member Patterson and
stated he felt his Council position is that of a policy maker. Council lays
down the standards by which the City Manager makes all the decisions
and runs the City. He stated that he bows to the recommendations of
people who know more about something than he does.
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February 12, 2003
Page 111
Council Member Boren stated that he maintains his position of needing a
City Treasurer for accountability.
Council Member Hernandez stated he recognizes there will be anomalies,
but there are exceptions to the rule. This is not to say that there is no
confidence.
Mayor McDougal suggested moving in direction of putting on agenda to
rescind the City Treasurer position by ordinance.
Council Member Martin suggested that a couple of items be placed on
agenda after the Committee has had opportunity to do a narrative on this.
A) Ordinance to abolish City Treasurer's position because, he will be
voting against it.
B) Create new ordinance identifying recommendations and put on
agenda in two weeks.
C) Ask Committee to finish narrative.
1:55 P. M. COUNCIL ADJOURNED
There being no further business to come before Council, Council Member
Boren made a motion to adjourn; Council Member Patterson seconded the
motion. Motion carried: 6 Yeas, 0 Nays.
Read and approved this 14) day of Ocfobe,r , 2005.
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