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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 City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 1 of 4 Pages 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 City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 2 of 4 Pages 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. City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 3 of 4 Pages 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 City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 4 of 4 Pages The meeting was adjourned at 06:52 PM. Attest: Jessica Brettle