Charter Review Committee

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AUGUST 16, 2010 - 10:00 A.M. OLD LAWTON HIGH SCHOOL – MAYOR’S CONFERENCE ROOM The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room at the Old Lawton High School. Meeting notice and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board as required by State Law. 1. Roll Call: PRESENT: Steve Barnes, Rick Sinnreich, Ken Easton, John Purcell, Jr., Minnette Page, John Cameron, Albert Johnson, Sr., Emil Vyhlidal, Ernest Godlove. ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Frank V. Jensen - City Attorney, Traci Hushbeck - City Clerk, Kim McConnell - Lawton Constitution. ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Approve minutes of August 9, 2010. MOVED by Johnson SECOND by Page, to approve the minutes of August 9, 2010. AYE: Barnes, Sinnreich, Easton, Purcell, Page, Cameron, Johnson, Vyhlidal, Godlove. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Review of the City Charter and take appropriate action if necessary. The committee reviewed the following items: C-1-3 - Planning and zoning—General grant of power. b. The scope of the planning function shall include, but shall not be limited to, the development and administration of a comprehensive land-use plan which will provide for the careful and thoughtful integration of residential, commercial, industrial, public, and other elements to achieve and preserve social purposes, economic values, and aesthetic quality of the neighborhoods and of other areas that compose the city. Richard Rogalski, City Planner, stated that the word “elements” refer to things that create a sense of community. Rogalski briefed the committee on planning activities that are currently going on in Lawton and Comanche County. Plans discussed were the Minutes of Charter Review Committee Meeting of August 16, 2010 Page 2 Growth Management Plan, Lawton Fort Sill Strategic Plan, 2030 Long Term Transportation Plan, Downtown Revitalization Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and the 2030 Land Use Plan. City Attorney and Planning Director to draft wording regarding strategic plan. Eason requested further discussion on length of terms. He felt that two year terms would save money and citizens would be more likely to commit to serving a two year term as opposed to three or four years. MOVED by Easton SECOND by Barnes, to change length of terms to two years. AYE: Barnes, Easton, Page, Vyhlidal. NAY: Sinnreich, Purcell, Cameron, Johnson, Godlove. MOTION FAILED. C-2-11 - Council—Quorum, rules, roll call votes. A majority of all of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day or from time to time. The council may determine its own rules. The vote on any question shall be by roll call, and shall be entered in the journal. A councilmember may abstain from voting in which case the abstention shall constitute neither a negative nor affirmative vote. A councilmember shall abstain from discussion and voting on any matter that can have a financial or personal family interest. The councilmember shall announce their intent to abstain prior to discussion of the item and shall refrain from taking part in the discussion on that item. The passage of an ordinance or resolution shall require at least five (5) affirmative votes. Purcell submitted suggested wording regarding abstentions. MOVED by Godlove SECOND by Barnes, to approve suggested wording on abstentions. AYE: Barnes, Easton, Purcell, Page, Cameron, Johnson, Vyhlidal, Godlove. NAY: Sinnreich. MOTION CARRIED. The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 23rd @ 10:00 a.m. at Old Lawton High/New City Hall. 4. Adjournment There was no further business to consider and upon motion, second and roll call vote the committee adjourned at 11:52 a.m.