Board Minutes Archive

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, 3RD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
AUSTIN, TEXAS

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES

Those in attendance were:

TCMA Board Members: President Mike Perez, city manager, McAllen; President Elect Paul Parker, city manager, Lufkin; Vice President Courtney Sharp, city manager, Mount Pleasant; TML Board Representative Greg Vick, assistant city manager, Farmers Branch; Region 1 Director Terri Johnson, city manager, Friona; Region 2 Director Rick Osburn, city manager, Levelland; Region 3 Director Lambert Little, city administrator, Hico; Region 4 Director Bill Keffler, city manager, Richardson; Region 5 Director Bob Turner, city manager, Tyler; Region 6 Director Michael Ross, city manager, West University Place; Region 7 Director James Fisher, city manager, Bee Cave; Region 8 Director Rick Cortes, assistant city manager, Seguin; Region 9 Director Gary Broz, city manager, Port Lavaca; Region 10 Director Craig Lonon, city manager, Harlingen; Director at-Large Julie Johnston, city administrator, Dickinson; Representative of the Assistants’ Organizations Catherine Hernandez, Executive Assistant, San Antonio.
Guest Tom Muehlenbeck, city manager, Plano.
TML Staff: Gary Watkins, Kim Pendergraft, and Kyle J. Jung.

President Mike Perez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and welcomed those in attendance.

Regional representatives updated the board concerning regional activities and openings.

On a motion by James Fisher and a second by Julie Johnston, the Board excused the absence of Mark McDaniel.

MEETING MINUTES
Upon a motion by Lambert Little and a second by Greg Vick, the Board approved the January 25, 2008 TCMA board meeting minutes as presented.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Upon a motion by Greg Vick and a second by Gary Broz, the following life and new memberships were approved:

Life
George Patterson, town administrator, Highland Park
Dennis Woodard, city manager, Hewitt

Full
Kenneth Bays, city administrator, Morgan’s Point
David Chavez, city manager, Ferris
Finely DeGraffenfied, city manager, Llano
Wayne Sabo, city manager, Webster
Chuck Upton, city administrator, Whitney
Susie Williamson, city administrator/city secretary, Shallowater
Ronald Wood, city manager, Liberty

Associate
Arturo Garcia, programs administrator, Laredo
Patrick Lawler, asst. to the city manager, Hudson Oaks

Cooperating
Jim Tharp, architect, GSBS Architects

Student
Matina Garrett, student, University of North Texas
Susan Manna, student, Texas A&M University
Robert Pacleb, intern, Hurst
Mark Wood, student, University of North Texas

RECEIVE REPORT FROM TCMA COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
Mike Perez, TCMA president and chair, TCMA executive committee, updated the board about the selection of Greg Vick and Mike Perez as TCMA representatives to the TMRS board as requested by Eric Henry, executive director, TMRS at the January 2008 TCMA board meeting.

Paul Parker, chair, TCMA professional development committee and Julie Johnston, vice chair, updated the board about the recently-completed TCMA educational events (second session of the William King Cole series, the city management clinic) and the upcoming TCMA annual conference in Arlington. Julie Johnston stated that a session called “Identifying and Cultivating Future Leaders” has been included in the TCMA annual conference program and Linda Groomer will be a presenter.

Michael Ross, chair, TCMA career management task force, and Bill Keffler, vice chair, updated the board about the TCMA mentoring program and provided a written report from Linda Groomer.

Greg Vick, chair, TCMA public relations committee, updated the board about the committee’s recent meeting regarding the nominations for the TCMA city council of the year award. On a motion by Greg Vick and a second by Craig Lonon, the board approved the committee’s recommendation for the TCMA city council of the year award.

Courtney Sharp, chair, TCMA membership committee, updated the board about the committee’s recent meeting regarding the TCMA professional awards, the Clarence E. Ridley and Barney Knight/CPM scholarships. On a motion by Courtney Sharp and a second by James Fisher, the board approved the committee’s recommendations for the TCMA administrator of the year award and the mentoring award in memory of Gary Gwyn.

On a motion by Craig Lonon and a second by Bill Keffler, the board approved the nomination for the TCMA lifetime achievement award.

On a motion by Courtney Sharp and a second by Gary Broz, the board approved the committee’s recommendations for the Barney Knight/CPM scholarship and the two Clarence E. Ridley scholarships.

These awards will be announced at the TCMA annual conference.

Kyle Jung updated the board about the timeline for the election of TCMA board positions. The deadline for submitting ballots is Friday, April 4 at 5:00 p.m. The TCMA nominating committee will canvass the votes and submit the results to the TCMA executive committee. James Fisher encouraged an examination of the role of the TCMA nominating committee in identifying members for statewide association positions.

James Fisher, chair, TCMA ethics committee, updated the board about the committee’s activities and the online ethics course. He suggested a future TCMA ethics committee should review TCMA’s responsibility concerning a TCMA member if their spouse is engaged in political activities.

RECEIVE REPORT ON TML-RELATED ISSUES
Greg Vick, TML board representative, updated the board about the recent February 29, 2008 TML board meeting. Items that were discussed at the TML board meeting included: streamline sales tax; issues related to the attorney-client exception under the Texas Open Meetings Act; a political overview by Harvey Kronberg; and financial reporting requirements regarding TMRS.

RECEIVE REPORT ON ICMA-RELATED ISSUES
Mike Perez informed the board that he appointed Larry Cunningham, city manager, North Richland Hills, as the TCMA representative on the 2009 ICMA annual conference planning committee.

Tom Muehlenbeck, mountain plains region vice president, ICMA, and city manager, Plano, updated the board about recent activities of the ICMA board. Items discussed at the ICMA board meeting included: delegate registration at the 2008 ICMA annual conference; ICMA corporate partner policies; flat rate membership dues for certain membership categories; ICMA’s current financial status; possible sites for the 2016 ICMA annual conference (Columbus, OH and Kansas City, MO).

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Kyle Jung presented the balance sheets and profit and loss statements ending February 29, 2008 for TCMA and the Foundation for Local Government. On a motion by James Fisher and a second by Julie Johnston, the board accepted the financials as presented.

Mike Perez, TFLG president decided to call the Texas Foundation for Local Government board meeting to order.

TEXAS FOUNDATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (TFLG)

The board called the meeting to order at 11:20 a.m. and in attendance were Mike Perez, foundation president; Paul Parker, board member; Courtney Sharp, board member; Greg Vick, board member; members of the TCMA board; Gary Watkins, Kim Pendergraft, and Kyle J. Jung, TML Staff.

On a motion by Courtney Sharp and a second by Paul Parker, the board excused the absence of Mark McDaniel.

On a motion by Greg Vick and a second by Paul Parker, the board approved the January 25, 2008 TFLG board meeting minutes as presented.

Craig Lonon updated the foundation board about the upcoming fundraising activities scheduled for April 10-11 in Richardson. On a motion by Courtney Sharp and a second by Paul Parker, the board approved the recommendation to cancel the TFLG fundraising dinner scheduled on April 10.

There being no other business, the Foundation Board adjourned at 11:27 a.m.

Mike Perez, TCMA president reconvened the TCMA board meeting.

OLD/NEW BUSINESS
Greg Vick informed the board that a member of the Farmers Branch fire department was invited to testify at a state committee meeting concerning the proposed retire/rehire legislation introduced as part of a past TMRS legislative agenda.

The TCMA board conducted a self evaluation using the evaluation document approved at the January 25, 2008 meeting.

The TCMA board asked the TML staff to leave the meeting and the TCMA board discussed the evaluation of the activities on the TML staff. The TML staff was asked to rejoin the meeting and was informed that a letter would be written by Mike Perez, TCMA president, and sent to the TML executive director detailing the evaluation. Comments from the TCMA president indicated the TCMA board was very satisfied with the work and responsiveness of the TML staff.

ADJOURNMENT
With no other business, the meeting was adjourned at noon.

The next meeting of the TCMA Board is June 26, 2008 in Arlington prior to the TCMA annual conference.

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