Board Minutes Archive

Board of Directors: Meeting Minutes

TEXAS CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION -
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2003
JESSE TANNEHILL ROOM - MARRIOTT AT THE CAPITOL,
AUSTIN, TEXAS

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES

Those in attendance were: President Tom Muehlenbeck, City Manager, Plano; President-Elect Larry Gilley, City Manager, Abilene; Vice President Craig Lonon, City Administrator, Conroe; Region 2 Director John Gayle, City Manager, Snyder; Region 3 Director Mike Slye, City Manager, Burkburnett; Region 4 Director Ed Thatcher, City Manager, Greenville; Region 5 Director Sharon Johnson, City Manager, Gladewater; Region 6 Director Joe Dickson, City Manager, Santa Fe; Region 7 Director Laura Huffman, Assistant City Manager, Austin; Region 8 Director Jack Hamlett, City Manager, Seguin; Region 9 Director Mike Tanner, City Manager, Portland; Region 10 Director Mike Perez, City Manager, McAllen; Director-at-Large Debbie Brooks Feazelle, City Manager, La Porte; TML Board Representative Paul Parker, City Manager, Mount Pleasant. Guests Jerry McGuire, ICMA Vice President, Paul Feazelle, City Manager, Lamesa, and Frank Sturzl, TML Executive Director. Staff: Gary Watkins, John Philpott, Gwena Cearley, and Kyle Jung.

President Tom Muehlenbeck called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and welcomed the guests and members in attendance.

On a motion by Joe Dickson and a second by Larry Gilley, the Board excused the absence of Bryan Easum and Mike Conduff.

Regional representatives updated the Board concerning regional activities and openings.

Jerry McGuire, ICMA Vice President and Community Development Director, Conroe, updated the Board about the recent activities of ICMA. No TCMA Board action was requested or taken.

Frank Sturzl, TML Executive Director, updated the Board about the current status of the Legislative Session and areas of future concern. No action was requested or taken.

MEETING MINUTES

Upon a motion by Craig Lonon and a second by Mike Tanner, the Board approved the September 19, 2002 TCMA Board meeting minutes as presented.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Upon a motion by Larry Gilley and a second from Debbie Brooks Feazelle, the following memberships were approved:

FULL
Kevin Bowden City Manager, Rusk
Loren Brand City Manager, Panhandle
Paul Brandenburg City Manager, Georgetown
Felix Cerna City Manager, Eagle Pass
Danny Felty City Administrator, Quanah
Jack Harper, II City Manager, Stamford
Randal Jones City Manager, Weimar
Robert Kerber City Administrator, Kemah
Sam Kittrell City Manager, Orange
Lemuel Lopez City Administrator, Bulverde
Kathleen Merrill Assistant City Manager, Abilene
John Moran City Manager, Hubbard
Craig Owens Assistant City Manager, Rowlett
Carlos Yerena City Manager, Pecos

ASSOCIATE
Barbara Bayer Asst. to CM, Bryan

AFFILIATE
T. Fleming Dir. of Utilities, Lamesa

COOPERATING
Melinda Polley Discipline Leader, Freese & Nichols, Inc.
Kenneth Wink Coordinator – MPA Program, University of Texas at Tyler

RECEIVE REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Debbie Brooks Feazelle, Chair of the TCMA Annual Conference Committee, updated the Board and provided a copy of the program. The committee recommended a change to the sponsorship policy for “in-kind” sponsors and allowing “host city local sponsors” to support specific events. On a motion by Jack Hamlett and a second by Joe Dickson, the Board approved the change as recommended by the committee.

As directed by the TCMA Board, the Annual Conference Committee, requested authorization to pursue the 2005 TCMA Annual Conference in Galveston. On a motion by Craig Lonon and a second by Mike Tanner, the Board authorized the staff to begin making preparations to hold the 2005 TCMA Annual Conference in Galveston.

Mike Tanner, Chair of the TCMA Membership/PR Committee, updated the Board about the recent activities of the committee including the planned meeting with representatives of the five assistants’ organizations to determine what they need from TCMA. Tom Muehlenbeck asked the Board to consider three special awards to be presented at the TCMA Annual Conference in recognition of special NASA Columbia-related activities conducted by cities’ employees recently. The Board concurred with this request.

Mike Slye, Chair of the TCMA Professional Development Committee, updated the Board of recent committee activities. Mike provided the Board with a copy of the committee’s version of the 3-year Educational Plan for TCMA. Also, the committee is developing the program topics and speakers for the TCMA Sessions at the 2003 TML Annual Conference in November in San Antonio.

On a motion by Mike Slye and a second by Craig Lonon, the Board approved a TCMA Professional Development committee request to award Ridley Scholarships to Jose Madrigal and Kacey Thomas. To fund the second award, the Board agreed to amend the current TCMA Budget to reflect this increase of $5,000. The Board approved these two items. On a motion by Mike Slye and a second by Craig Lonon, the Board awarded the Barney Knight/CPM Scholarship to Don Iles, City Manager, Hemphill.

Mike Perez, member of the TCMA Mentoring Committee, updated the Board about the status of the Mentoring Program.

RECEIVE REPORT ON TML-RELATED ACTIVITIES

Paul Parker and Kyle Jung updated the Board about the format change of the TML Annual Conference with regards to sessions planned by TML Affiliate Organizations.

RECEIVE REPORT ON ICMA-RELATED ACTIVITIES

Kyle Jung provided a copy of the letter that the TCMA Executive Committee approved in support of Mark Watson for the position of ICMA President. The full Board expressed their support of the actions of the Executive Committee and for Mark Watson.

After a discussion about the ICMA Fund for the Profession and how TCMA and its members can support it, Mike Perez moved and Jack Hamlett seconded a motion to provide matching funds not to exceed $10,000 to be used to match funds provided by TCMA members between February 9 – June 30, 2003. Notification will be sent to the TCMA membership encouraging their support for the ICMA Fund for the Profession and announcing the matching funds available. The Board approved this motion.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Kyle Jung provided the balance sheets and profit and loss statements for both TCMA and the Texas Foundation for Local Government for the period ending December 31, 2002. On a motion by Joe Dickson and a second by Mike Perez, the Board accepted the statements.

OLD/NEW BUSINESS

Probationary language that could be included as an option in the TCMA Sample Employment Agreement was provided to the Board. After a discussion, the issue of probationary language was referred by the TCMA Board to the TCMA Membership/PR Committee for review.

As requested by the Board, the staff provided a set of draft co-sponsorship guidelines for consideration by the Board. These guidelines describe what types of events and organizations TCMA might consider co-sponsoring events. On a motion by Mike Perez and a second by Ed Thatcher, the Board approved the guidelines for co-sponsoring events.

The Board had requested draft descriptions for each of the TCMA Executive Board positions which were provided by the staff. After a discussion, John Gayle moved and Ed Thatcher seconded a motion to approve the TCMA Executive Committee positions’ descriptions.

In light of assuming the position of City Manager in La Porte, Debra Brooks Feazelle withdrew her petition to complete her term on the TCMA Board and no action was necessary by the Board.

Kyle Jung informed the Board that a printer friendly version of the TCMA Membership roster is being developed and will be available on the TCMA Web site in the near future. When it is available, notice will be provided to the membership.

The TCMA Constitution provides that the “…TCMA Board shall establish the process and form in which petitions shall be submitted including, but not limited to mail or electronic forms.”(TCMA Constitution, Article III, Section 6, C) On a motion by Mike Perez and a second by Debbie Brooks Feazelle, the Board authorized, beginning with the 2004 election, submission of petitions for candidates for statewide positions on the TCMA Board by either regular mail or e-mail means. TCMA staff will use reasonable means to verify electronic submission of petitions.

The TCMA Board discussed the possible adoption of the Council-Manager form of government in the City of El Paso. The Board supports this idea and will ensure ICMA is aware of this possible adoption.

A TCMA member asked the Board to consider password protecting the list of City Administrator/Manager openings available on the TCMA Web site. After a discussion, the Board decided not to password protect this information on the TCMA Web site.

The staff asked the Board if they wanted further feedback regarding severance agreements and the Public Policy Survey that was sent to the membership. The Board authorized the staff to prepare and send short surveys to determine membership use and feelings about severance agreements and the Public Policy Survey that was made available to the membership.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the TCMA Board adjourned at 7:30 p.m.