HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 05.20.2011 CC-RThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor
George Garver presiding.
Council Present. Council Absent.
Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Danny Meigs, Bill All Council Present
Sattler, Pat Berryman, Dale Ross, Tommy
Gonzalez
Staff resent.
Jessica Brettle, City Secretary; Mark Sokolow,
Regular Session = To begin no earlier than 06:00 PIVI
(Council may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of
the Mayor, a Councilmember, or the City Manager for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act,
Texas Government Code Chapter 551.)
•- •, • y-• .•ilI - 1111
11
A Call to Order
Mayor called the special session to order at 6:00 PM and welcomed the audience to the meeting.
B Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution canvassing the votes for the May 14, 2011 Special
Election, declaring the results to be official -- Jessica Brettle, City Secretary
Mayor reviewed the item and how the votes of the election are canvassed. Brettle read the bond proposition
that appeared on the ballot and the votes for and against the measure.
Motion by Ross, second by Berryman to approve the Resolution. Approved 7-0
C Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution canvassing the votes for the May 14, 2011
General Election, declaring the results to be official — Jessica Brettle, City Secretary
Brettle read off the votes for and against each candidate who ran for office for the May 24, 2011 General
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Election. The offices up for election were Mayor, District 2 and District 6.
Motion by Berryman, second by Ross to approve the Resolution. Approved 7-0
D Swearing in of reappointed candidate for Mayor, George Garver -- Jessica Brettle, City Secretary
Brettle administered the Oath of Office for the office of Mayor to George Garver.
E Comments from reappointed candidate for Mayor, George Garver -- Mayor George Garver
Mayor said he would like to take a few minutes to acknowledge a number of items that may be helpful for our
discussion. He thanked the members of the community who endorsed and supported his candidacy. He said he
is deeply indebted to them and it is a great honor to be elected to serve a second term as Mayor of this fantastic
city. He acknowledged his wife, Alice, and her role in this process. He said they have been married for 53
years and she has been a jewel. He said, like all of us, there have been good times and rough times but noted
she has always been there with him. He noted the time that each person serves on Council is more formidable
than what most members realize at first blush. He said she said something to him at the conclusion of the race
that was meaningful. He noted she said he should not be troubled by the fact there was a candidate who ran
against him. He said she noted that was just an opportunity for him to resubmit his credentials for affirmation.
He said this year's election has shown that he was able to carry every precinct except for one. He noted this
has been a wonderful re -affirmation and he is deeply indebted to the community. He said it is his hope that we
as elected officials can keep their focus on what is best for the city. He said he hopes the council can set aside
politics and personal preferences. He said he will do everything in his power to assist in finding the best way for
the city to grow and prosper. He noted he pledges to continue the style of leadership that has been in place
from this chair for the past few years. He said he believes strongly in courtesy, civility, honesty and
transparency. He thanked the audience and said it is a real honor to be able to continue serving for another
term as Mayor.
F Presentation of appreciation to outgoing District 2 Councilmember, Gabe Sansing -- Mayor George Garver
Mayor presented Gabe Sansing with a plaque in recognition of his service as Councilmember for District 2.
G Comments from outgoing District 2 Councilmember, Gabe Sansing -- Mayor George Garver
Sansing said, in 2002, when he was first elected, things started changing in Georgetown. He thanked the
Council previous to when he served for the creation of Scenario H. He also thanked Charles Carter, who helped
him with his 2002 campaign. He said he would also like to thank Bruce Barton and Marvin Dorsey, who helped
him run in 2005. He noted Leo Wood helped him get involved in the Georgetown community. He said he wants
to be sure to thank the staff. He noted Paul Brandenburg has been a fantastic City Manager and the hiring of
Brandenburg has been one of the best decisions ever made for the City. He thanked Jim Briggs, Laura Wilkins
and Shirley Rinn as well. He also thanked Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett and Eric Lashley. He said we have
many fine people running our department here in Georgetown. He thanked the Community Development
Department as well as Building and Inspections. He welcomed Hellmann and Jonrowe and noted it will be a
challenge early on, but listen and learn. He asked that the Council listen to our staff and try not to micro
manage. He requested that, if you hear a rumor and have a question, call the person who supposedly said or
did that and verify. He told the new members not to listen to rumors. He said it is also important to get involved
in the community. He noted one thing he has always believed is that Council members should not be serving on
any other Board than the Council. He said he would like to stay active in transportation issues in the City. He
thanked the community for allowing him to serve for nine years. He said he is not going away and added, if
Council or anyone would like to tap into his institutional memory, he would be happy to share his knowledge.
H Swearing in of unopposed candidate for District 2, Troy Hellmann -- Mayor George Garver
Brettle administered the Oath of Office for the position of Councilmember District 2 to Troy Hellmann.
Comments from incoming Councilmember for District 2, Troy Hellmann -- Mayor George Garver
Hellman thanked his supporters who invested their time, talent and treasure into this campaign. He also
thanked his friends who have worked tirelessly to help him get to this point, especially his business partner
Scott. He thanked his family and added his grandfather lives here in the Wesleyan and he would like to thank
him for teaching him about what honesty is like and about doing what is right even if it is hard. He thanked his
uncle who taught him to take a stand for the right thing. He thanked his parents who taught him right from
wrong and set him on this path. He also thanked his sisters for always believing in their big brother. He
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thanked his kids for their enthusiasm throughout this process and their support. He thanked his wife who let him
do this. He said only she knows how hard this will be and added he appreciates her love and respect. He said
he is honored to be here. He noted Georgetown is a wonderful place with a history of great leadership. He
honored outgoing Council members Gabe Sansing and Dale Ross and thanked them for their service. He read
an excerpt from a speech that Teddy Roosevelt gave that has always been meaningful to him. He asked that
Council put aside differences and join together in their love for the community. He asked that Council conduct
themselves with excellence as their standard, conduct their meetings with decorum, pledge to be open and
honest and do everything out in the open and may we do great thing together.
J Presentation of appreciation to outgoing District 6 Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, Dale Ross -- Mayor
George Garver
Mayor presented Dale Ross with a plaque in recognition of his service as Councilmember for District 6 and
Mayor Pro Tem for 2010-2011.
K Comments from outgoing District 6 Councilmember, Dale Ross -- Mayor George Garver
Ross congratulated Jonrowe on winning the election and added he has never seen a candidate work that hard
in a race. He wished her the best of luck going forward. He thanked all of his supporters for their hard work in
making this a very close race. He thanked the Mayor and the Council members that he has had the privilege to
serve with over the past three years. He noted he helped to bring financial discipline to the City Council. He
said, with respect to staff, there was not a single layoff or furlough. He noted the Council can not take all of the
credit for this and added they have a wonderful staff who runs the city. He said the Council should focus on
policy making. He thanked his wife Micki, who has sacrificed more than he has in the past three years. He said
he and his wife will continue to be highly involved in the community. He asked that God continue to bless the
City of Georgetown.
L Swearing in of candidate for District 6 Councilmember, Rachael Jonrowe -- Jessica Brettle, City Secretary
Brettle administered the Oath of Office for the position of Councilmember District 6 to Rachael Greulich
Jonrowe.
M Comments from incoming Councilmember for District 6, Rachael Jonrowe -- Mayor George Garver
Jonrowe said she would like to take a moment to thank everyone. She thanked Dale Ross for running a
campaign that was full of energy and enthusiasm. She said, if it wasn't for him, she would not have had to work
as hard. She noted she has learned a lot already through this process and added it is an honor to take his seat.
She said it is her hope that the Council can treat each other with respect and civility even in the midst of debate.
She noted if the Council always keeps the goal of the betterment of Georgetown to the advantage of all in mind
and work together, we can achieve it. She thanked the volunteers and supporters who have rallied behind her.
She said we often hear the phrase "every vote counts," but noted it is rare to see just how true that adage is.
She thanked her family for their encouragement and support. She thanked her children. She spoke to the
people of District 6. She thanked those who voted for her and added she hopes they find their decision justified
in the coming year. She said, to those who did not vote for her, she is always available and she looks forward to
doing her best to earn their trust and support. She noted that everyone's participation in the community can
make a difference. She said if you take the time to get involved, she will take the time to listen. She noted she
can not promise she will vote the way you want her to vote, but added she can promise that she will never cast a
thoughtless vote. She said her last thought before voting will always be whether or not it helps or hurts the
people of her district and of Georgetown. She thanked the community for the honor of allowing her to serve.
N Consideration of election from the dais of a Mayor Pro Tem — Mayor George Garver
Mayor described the item and the responsibilities of the Mayor Pro Tem.
Motion by Berryman, second by Gonzalez to appoint Eason as Mayor Pro Tem. Approved 7-0
Berryman
acknowledged
the fact that Eason has
served on the Council longer than any of the rest of the
members.
She
thanked
Eason
for
her admirable
service.
O Swearing in of Mayor Pro Tem -- Jessica Brettle, City Secretary
Brettle administered the Oath of Office for the office of Mayor Pro Tem to Patty Eason.
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P Comments from incoming Mayor Pro Tem -- Mayor George Garver
Eason thanked her colleagues for their support in electing her as Mayor Pro Tem. She welcomed the newly
elected members of the City Council. She thanked Ross and Sansing for their service and said they have been
true leaders on this Council. She said their service has been greatly appreciated. She thanked her husband
and added she could not have served all of these years without his support. She thanked everyone once more
and added she looks forward to serving the City as Mayor Pro Tem in the coming year.
Q Adjournment
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The meeting was adjourned at 06:52 PM.
Attest:
Jessica Brettle