Charter Review Commission

City of San Marcos Meeting Minutes Charter Review Commission Monday, February 8, 2021 5:30 PM Virtual Meeting I. Call To Order With a quorum present, the regular meeting of the Charter Review Commission was called to order by Mr. Cosentino at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021. II. Roll Call Present: 7 - Commissioner Garcia, Commissioner Mayhew, Commissioner, Sambrano, Commissioner Sparks, Commissioner Thomaides, Commissioner Taylor (arrived at 5:35 p.m.), and Commissioner Kelsey (arrived at 5:38 p.m.) Absent: 0 Others Present: 3 - Lisa Marie Coppoletta, Tammy Cook, and Terra Rivers of Corridor News 1. Administer Oaths of Office. Ms. Moreno administered the Oaths of Office to newly appointed members. 2. Election of Chair. Commissioner Mayhew nominated Commissioner Thomaides as Chair. There were no other nominations. The nomination passed by the following vote: For: 5 - Chair Garcia, Commissioner Mayhew, Commissioner Sambrano, Commissioner Sparks, and Commissioner Taylor Against: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Thomaides Absent: 1 - Commissioner Kelsey (arrived at 5:38 p.m.) 3. Election of Vice-Chair. Chair Thomaides nominated Commissioner Mayhew. Commissioner Garcia nominated Commissioner Sambrano, who respectfully declined the nomination and then seconded the nomination of Commissioner Mayhew. The nomination passed by the following vote: For: 7 - Chair Thomaides, Commissioner Garcia, Commissioner Kelsey, Commissioner Mayhew, Commissioner Sambrano, Commissioner Sparks, and Commissioner Taylor Against: 0  Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes February 8, 2021 III. 30 Minute Citizen Comment Period Lisa Marie Coppoletta addressed the Commission with concerns about agendas, the city clerk, and the city manager. She recommends agendas be recorded and uploaded, now that meetings are being held virtually, and have this recommen- dation be added to the City Charter. Agendas for work sessions should include questions and answers from press and public. Special meetings should include: questions and answers from press and public and a citizen comment period. All agendas should also have a corresponding meeting packet uploaded. She then recommended that the city clerk should not have to live in the city limits. Her recommendations for city manager is that private meetings should not be allowed, or special favors given, and should not be able to place an item on an agenda like Kissing Tree, since he lives there and has a special financial interest. 4. Discuss and consider approval of meeting schedule and approach to Charter review. There was a consensus to meet at 5:30 p.m. on the first, second, and fourth Mondays from now through May 24, 2021 and to allow modifications, if needed. The Commission will also approach the Charter section by section. 5. Review and discuss City Council’s Charge to the Charter Review Commission. There was a consensus that the requests made by Council in the Charge will be addressed during section by section review of the Charter. 6. Begin section by section review of City Charter. After review of Article I – Form of Government and Boundaries, and Article II – Powers of the City, no action was taken. The Commission began review of Article III – The City Council and had a consensus to have flow charts prepared on the effects of adding term limits and changing the lengths of terms as follows: Mayor having a 4-year term with a two (2) term limit; Council having a 3-year term with a three (3) term limit; or Mayor and Council having 3-year terms with two (2) term limits. IV. Discussion and Recommendations for Future Agenda Items. February 22, 2021: ▪ continue section by section review of San Marcos’ City Charter, including but not limited to, Article III – The City Council and Article IV – Administrative Services ▪ discuss and review single-member districts V. Question and Answer Session with Press and Public. Terra Rivers of Corridor News was present and declined to speak. VI. Adjournment City of San Marcos Page 2 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes February 8, 2021 The Regular Meeting of the Charter Review Commission meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Michael Cosentino, Staff Liaison John Thomaides, Chair City of San Marcos Page 3