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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCmin2020-03-242 3. 4. ANNACITYCOUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR SESSION March 243 2020 Call to Order/Roll Call and Establishment of Quorum Mayor Pike called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. All Council Members were present. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Citizen Comments. At this time, any person may address the City Council regarding an item on this meeting agenda that is not scheduled for public hearing. Also, at this time any person may address the Council regarding an item that is not on this meeting agenda. Each person will be allowed up to three (3) minutes to speak. No discussion or action may be taken at this meeting on items not listed on this agenda, other than to make statements of specific factual information in response to a citizen's inquiry or to recite existing policy in response to the inquiry. Written comments were received opposing the postponement of the May 2 General and Special Elections. Kelly Patterson -Herndon Elden Baker Bryan Heath Clark Miller See Exhibit A. Council Entered Closed Session. Receive reports from Staff or the City Council about items of community interest. Items of community interest include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public employee, or other citizen (but not including a change in status of a person's public office or public employment); a reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or employee of the municipality; and announcements involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. a. Staff will provide an update on the Ferguson Parkway project funding. The Ferguson Parkway project is shown in the City of Anna Thoroughfare Plan and is listed in the City of Anna Strategic Plan as a major project. Staff has been working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Collin County to prepare a funding package for final design and construction. b. Chief Isom will provide a brief update on COVID-19 activities. 5. Consent Items. These items consist of non -controversial or "housekeeping" items required by law. Items may be considered individually by any Council member making such request prior to a motion and vote on the Consent Items. a. Approve Council Meeting Minutes for March 10, 2020. (City Secretary Carrie Land) b. Review CDC/EDC Joint Meeting Minutes from the February 6, 2020 Meeting (Economic Development Director Joey Grisham) c. Approve a Resolution accepting the FY2019 audit report (Dana Thornhill) The City currently is in the first year of a two to five year contract with the accounting firm Weaver and Tidwell PLLC to prepare the audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THE CITY OF ANNA. d. Approve an Ordinance providing for requirements and verification of requirements for elective office. (City Secretary Carrie Land) The City currently does not conduct criminal background checks on candidates for office of the City Council. Under Section 3.05 of the City of Anna Home Rule Charter members of the City Council may not have a felony conviction, a misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude, or a conviction for violation of any state law regulating conflicts of interest of municipal officers. By adoption of this ordinance the City Council establishes a City policy and procedures for conducting criminal background checks on both candidates for the offices of Mayor and all places on the City Council as well as City boards, commissions, and committees. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS PROVIDING FOR REQUIREMENTS AND VERIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR SAVINGS, REPEALING AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF. MOTION: Council Member Miller moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Council Member Toten seconded. Motion carried 6-0. 6. Consider/Discuss/Action regarding approval of an ordinance extending the declaration of disaster and public health emergency. (City Manager Jim Proce) On Tuesday, March 17, the Mayor signed a declaration of disaster and public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The signed declaration was effective for seven days. At this time, the declaration would need to be extended should the Council wish to keep it in place. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS EXTENDING COVID-19 DECLARATION OF DISASTER AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR SAVINGS, REPEALING AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF, MOTION: Mayor Pike moved to approve Ordinance subject to Declaration expiring April 14, 2020. Council Member Vollmer seconded. Motion carried 6-0. 7. Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance postponing the May 2, 2020 General and Special Election to the November 3, 2020 Uniform Election Date. (City Secretary Carrie Land) On the 17th day of March, 2020, the Mayor determined that extraordinary and immediate measures must be taken to respond quickly, prevent and alleviate the suffering of people exposed to and those infected with the virus, as well as those that could potentially be infected or impacted by COVI D-19, and issued a proclamation declaring a disaster for the City of Anna; Given the manner in which the COVI D-19 novel coronavirus spreads and its high degree of contagiousness, the activities commonly associated with municipal elections and political campaigns pose an unnecessary risk to public health and potential loss of life, and in this time of emergency it is necessary to take swift and decisive action to save lives, protect the public welfare, and reduce burdens on our health care system and medical professionals; and Pursuant to his powers as Governor of the State of Texas, Greg Abbott has issued the following: A proclamation suspending Sections 41.0052(a) and (b) of the Texas Election Code and Section 49.103 of the Texas Water Code to the extent necessary to allow political subdivisions that would otherwise hold elections on May 27 2020, to move their general and special elections for 2020 only to the next uniform election date, occurring on November 3, 2020, without otherwise adjusting the term of office, and suspending Sections 31.093 and 42.0621(c) of the Texas Election Code to the extent necessary to require all county election officers, if requested by an affected political subdivision, to enter into a contract to furnish election services with any political subdivision who postponed their election to November 3, 2020, under the authority of this proclamation. Collin County Elections Administrator, Bruce Sherbet, will NOT be offering the usual contract election services as normally provided by the Elections Department for May 2, 2020 Election. The County will offer voting equipment for lease and the City may conduct their own election. MOTION: Council Member Beazley moved to take no action. Council Member Miller seconded. Motion carried 6-0. 8. CLOSED SESSION (EXCEPTIONS) Under Tex. Gov't Code Chapter 551, the City Council may enter into closed session to discuss any items listed or referenced on this agenda under the following exceptions: a. Consult with legal counsel regarding pending or contemplated litigation and/or on matters in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 551 of the Government Code (Tex. Gov't Code §551.071). architect contract b. Discuss or deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property (Tex. Gov't Code §551.072); city facilities; acquisition of easements c. Discuss or deliberate Economic Development Negotiations: (1) To discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City of Anna and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations; or (2) To deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by subdivision (1). (Tex. Gov't Code §551.087); possible incentive agreements with property developers; pending negotiations on development agreements. d. Discuss or deliberate personnel matters (Tex. Gov't Code §551.074); Boards and Commission Members; Personnel MOTION: Council Member Vollmer moved to enter closed session. Council Member Bryan seconded. Motion carried 6-0. Mayor Pike recessed the meeting at 6:46 PM. Mayor Pike reconvened the meeting at 8:27 PM. 9. Consider/Discuss/Action on any items listed on the posted agenda or any closed session occurring during this meeting, as necessary None. 10. Adjourn. Mayor Pike adjourned the meeting at 9:19 PM. ATTEST: City Secretary Carrie L. Land rov don e pril 14, 2020. G�- EXHIBIT A Carrie L. Land From: Clark Miller Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 4:57 PM To: Carrie L. Land Subject: Council Meeting 3-24-20 - Public Comment Good evening and thanks for allowing me to send this email to be heard at the city council meeting. I wanted to voice my opinion on the upcoming elections and the item regarding possibly moving the date from from May to November. As you may know, I am running for re-election to Place 5 of the Anna ISD School Board on the May 2nd ballot. The school district has not made a decision on whether or not to move the trustee election, but will likely wait to see what the city decides to do before making a decision. I personally am in favor of the City and ISD holding the date of May 2nd for several reasons even though the state has allowed us to change the date and Collin County has decided not to conduct any elections on this day due to the current pandemic. I know that the City of Anna and AISD have the experience and capability of conducting their own local election as they have done in the past. However, more than anything, I also want what is best for the health and safety of the citizens of Anna. I would also like to consider, as an alternative, pushing the election date to coincide with the county run off election in July. With one seat on the city council ballot having 3 candidates, the chances for a run off are likely and having an election in November would make a run off very difficult to achieve. From what I understand, the city and ISD have until the day before early voting to move the election date. Ultimately I would ask to consider postponing any definitive decisions regarding the changing of the election date until closer to that early voting cut off in order to further evaluate the circumstances around the pandemic. Quite honestly, with the way things have been going lately, it would be nice to have something normal to look forward to and if it does change at the last minute nobody would be surprised. I appreciate you hearing (reading) my comments and appreciate all that you do for our great community. Respectfully, Clark Miller i WELCOME TO THE ANNA Cl COUNCIL MEETING! • Those wishing to address the City Council are asked to complete this form. Please present the form and ten (10) copies of any written notes or handouts to the City Secretary prior to the Regular meeting. Groups wishing to address the same issue are encouraged to select a spokesperson. • The Presiding Officer will ask those wishing to address the City Council to do so at the appropriate time. Please approach the speaker's stand, state your name and address for the record, and discuss the specific agenda item or topic of interest. Please direct your comments only to the Presiding Officer. Please be courteous and refrain from language or behavior that is disorderly or disruptive to the conduct of City business. • Although the City Council cannot take specific action on Neighbors Comments on items not on the Regular Agenda due to legal requirements, the City Council may: 1. Have the item placed on a future agenda for action; 2. Refer the item to the full City Council or a subcommittee for further study; 3. Refer the item to staff for study or conclusion. We appreciate your interest in the community and hope you will visit again soon. Name: Kelly Patterson -Herndon 23 March 2020 Optional, for purpose of the City contacting speaker Address: City/State/Zip: Email: Phone: NEIGHBORS COMMENTS: This item is available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items on the agenda that are not Public Hearing items. This item is also available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items that are not included on the agenda. However, by State law, no action may be taken on a subject that is not on the agenda. The time limit is three minutes per speaker. Note that the three-minute time limit applies to each speaker regardless of the number of items/topics the speaker may choose to discuss. PLEASE PROVIDE THE ITEMS/TOPIC(S) YOU WILL DISCUSS UNDER THE "NEIGHBORS COMMENT" ITEM: Item #7 on the agenda. Please see attached . PUBLIC HEARING Agenda Item # I wish to speak IN FAVOR of this item. XX I wish to speak IN OPPOSITION to this item. I do not wish to speak. Please record my SUPPORT XX Additional Comments: Route Ta Response By: City Manager or Designee ; i OPPOSITION. December 20, 2019 Council Speaker Sign -!n Sheet The Governor's suspension of Section 41.00529 (a) & (b) of the Texas Election code and Section 49.103 of the Texas Water Code that will allow political subdivisions to move May elections to November under the authority of his proclamation is not a demand for anyone to do so. I could be wrong but the way I read the Election Code, is as follows: The Election Advisory No. 2020-12 is merely a repeat of the proclamation. I copied the following from the Texas Election Code after reading all the submissions in the Council Agenda. While Mr. Sherbet cites 41.001(d) for his refusal to provide contracted services, in section 31.093 the county has a duty to do so. Furthermore, 41.004 referencing a special election in which one of the seats up for election, 41.001(a) does not apply. As the city has already set the election date, shouldn't there already be a contract in place? Can we not hold them to that contract? And if the election date is changed, would section 41.0052 apply? Why or why not? This decision should not be made in haste and fear. If the CDC and WHO are correct, this pandemic should subside before the May 2 election date. With all the widespread panic and fear, we need some sort of normalcy. Please do not let the authorities in Collin County bully this election delay. The cost of this should be split with AISD as their election is also at the same time. I request re -visiting this in two or three weeks and re-evaluate. Sec. 41.001. UNII'ORM ELECTION DATES. (d) Notwithstanding Section 31.093, a county elections administrator is not required to enter into a contract to furnish election services for an election held on the date described by Subsection (a)(2). Sec. 31.093. DUTY TO CONTRACT. (a) If requested to do so by a political subdivision, the county elections administrator shall enter into a contract to furnish the election services requested, in accordance with a cost schedule agreed on by the contracting parties. (b) A county elections administrator may but is not required to enter into a contract to conduct a training program for election judges and clerks. (c) On request of the county chair of a political party holding a primary election in the county, the county election officer shall contract with the county executive committee of the party to perform election services, as provided by this subchapter, in the party's general primary election and runoff primary election in accordance with a.cost schedule agreed on by the contracting parties. (d) In a contract required by Subsection (c), the county election officer may not prevent the county chair or the chair's designee from supervising the conduct of the primary election, including the tabulation of results, as required by Chapter 172. A county election officer who violates this subsection commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor. (e) A county election officer must offer to contract on the same terms with the county executive committee of each political party holding a primary election in the county. Sec. 41.004. SPECIAL ELECTION WITHIN PARTICULAR PERIOD. (a) If a law outside this code other than the constitution requires a special election subject to Section 41.001(a) to be held within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event, the election shall be held on an authorized uniform election date occurring within the period unless no uniform election date within the period affords enough time to hold the election in the manner required Dy law. In that case, the election shall be held on the first authorized uniform election date occurring after the expiration of the period. (b) If the constitution requires a special election to be held within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event, Section 41.001(a) does not apply. Sec. 42.0621. PRECINCTS FOR ELECTIONS HELD ON NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. (a) In an election held on the November uniform election date, the political subdivisions to which Section 42.002(a)(5) applies shall use the regular county election precincts. (b) If an election precinct is not located wholly within the territory of a political subdivision holding an election in the precinct or a district used to elect an office at the election, election officials shall take reasonable measures to ensure that a voter voting at that precinct may not vote in an election in which the voter is not entitled to vote. (c) This section does not require a political subdivision to contract with a county under Section 31.092 or hold a joint election with a county under Chapter 271. (d) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to implement this section. Sec. 41.0052. CHANGING GENERAL ELECTION DATE. (a) The goV erning body of a political subdivision, other than a county or municipal utility district, that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date may, not later than December 31, 2016, change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date. (b) A governing body changing an election date under this section shall adjust the terms of office to conform to the new election date. (c) A home -rule city may implement the change authorized by Subsection (a) or provide for the election of all members of the governing body at the same election through the adoption of a resolution. The change contained in the resolution supersedes a city charter provision that requires a different general election date or that requires the terms of members of the governing body to be staggered. (d) The holdover of a member of a governing body of a city in accordance with Section 17, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, so that a term of office may be conformed to a new election date chosen under this section does not constitute a vacancy for purposes of Section 11(b), Article XI, Texas Constitution. (e) The governing body of a newly incorporated city may, not later than the second anniversary of the date of incorporation, change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to another authorized uniform election date. WELCOME TO THE ANNA CITY COUNCIL MEETING! • Those wishing to address the City Council are asked to complete this form. Please present the form and ten (10) copies of any written notes or handouts to the City Secretary prior to the Regular meeting. Groups wishing to address the same issue are encouraged to select a spokesperson. • The Presiding Officer will ask those wishing to address the City Council to do so at the appropriate time. Please approach the speaker's stand, state your name and address for the record, and discuss the specific agenda item or topic of interest. Please direct your comments only to the Presiding Officer. Please be courteous and refrain from language or behavior that is disorderly or disruptive to the conduct of City business. • Although the City Council cannot take specific action on Neighbors Comments on items not on the Regular Agenda due to legal requirements, the City Council may: 1. Have the item placed on a future agenda for action; 2. Refer the item to the full City Council or a subcommittee for further study; 3. Refer the item to staff for study or conclusion. We appreciate your interest in the community and hope you will visit again soon. Name: Elden Baker Date: Mach 23. 2020 Optional, for purpose of the City contacting speaker Address: 305 Eastbrook Dr. City/State/Zip: Anna TX 75409 Email: Phone: NEIGHBORS COMMENTS: This item is available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items on the agenda that are not Public Hearing items. This item is also available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items that are not included on the agenda. However, by State law, no action may be taken on a subject that is not on the agenda. The time limit is three minutes per speaker. Note that the three-minute time limit applies to each speaker regardless of the number of items/topics the speaker may choose to discuss. PLEASE PROVIDE THE ITEMS/TOPIC(S) YOU WILL DISCUSS UNDER THE "NEIGHBORS COMMENT" ITEM: (See Attached) PUBLIC HEARING Agenda Item # TBD I wish to speak IN FAVOR of this item. X I wish to speak IN OPPOSITION to this item. (Attached comment read into the record) I do not wish to speak. Please record my SUPPORT OPPOSITION. Additional Comments: ro�O�ciar use: Route To: Response I3y: City Manager or Designee December20, 20i9 Council Speaker Sign -In Sheet Mayor Pike, Council members, City Manager and Staff; My name is Elden Baker and I live at 305 Eastbrook Drive located in the City of Anna. On March 18, 2020, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation in which he encouraged local election officials to postpone their 2020 local elections. understand the Governor's reasoning for the postponement of the May 2nd elections. However, before we make a decision whether or not we should postpone our election, there are a number of factors that we need to consider. We are now into the second week since the President issued the national emergency. Information is coming out daily regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There will be more information available by the time of the next scheduled city council meeting on April 7th. Eventually, we WILL get through this pandemic, restrictions on public meetings will be lifted and, we will be able to get back to business as usual. We will be in a much better position to make an informed decision based on the latest information and it will allow time to consider the following. ® What are the additional costs to the City of Anna if we do postpone? What are additional costs if we do not postpone? ® What is the impact of extending the (and shortening the next) terms of office? ® What additional resources will be required if the election goes on as scheduled? The COVID4 9 outback is very serious and people are on the edge of panic. Proper measures are being taken to control the spread of the infection but it is just as important to remember this is a temporary situation. If within the next few weeks, Federal, State, and local officials are able to lift the restrictions on public gatherings; holding the election as scheduled on May 2nd (with the early voting period of April 20-28) will go a long way towards returning our community to a since of normalcy. I do not have a definite answer as to if we should postpone the election but, I do know that we do not need to make the decision at this time. There is ample time to see what transpires over the next couple of weeks. Therefore, I suggest that council tables the decision of postponement at this time. Thank you; Elden Baker WELCOME TO THE ANNA CITY COUNCIL MEETING! • Those wishing to address the City Council are asked to complete this form. Please present the form and ten (10) copies of any written notes or handouts to the City Secretary prior to the Regular meeting. Groups wishing to address the same issue are encouraged to select a spokesperson. • The Presiding Officer will ask those wishing to address the City Council to do so at the appropriate time. Please approach the speaker's stand, state your name and address for the record, and discuss the specific agenda item or topic of interest. Please direct your comments only to the Presiding Officer. Please be courteous and refrain from language or behavior that is disorderly or disruptive to the conduct of City business. • Although the City Council cannot take specific action on Neighbors Comments on items not on the Regular Agenda due to legal requirements, the City Council may: 1. Have the item placed on a future agenda for action; 2. Refer the item to the full City Council or a subcommittee for further study; 3. Refer the item to staff for study or conclusion. We appreciate your interest in the community and hope you will visit again soon. Please Print***«�*��*�*����***�***��**��*�**��:***.�**�,.•**•*�*�*�,�� Name: Bryan Heath Date: March 23, 2020 Optional, for purpose of the City contacting speaker Address: 9895 East Fork Circle City/State/Zip: Anna TX 75409 Email: I Phone NEIGHBORS COMMENTS: This item is available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items on the agenda that are not Public Hearing items. This item is also available for neighbors to speak on any subject including items that are not included on the agenda. However, by State law, no action may be taken on a subject that is not on the agenda. The time limit is three minutes per speaker. Note that the three-minute time limit applies to each speaker regardless of the number of items/topics the speaker may choose to discuss. PLEASE PROVIDE THE ITEMS/TOPIC(S) YOU WILL DISCUSS UNDER THE "NEIGHBORS COMMENT" ITEM: 1 wish to speak IN FAVOR of this item. X I wish to speak IN OPPOSITION to this item. I do not wish to speak. Please record my SUPPORT X OPPOSITION. Additional Comments: First, I would like to thank the Mayor, Council, and the rest of the department chiefs and good people who make the Anna city government run every day especially during this test of our soc!ety. Your leadership has given me and the rest of the people of this city much-needed comfort and I appreciate the steadfast voices of reason you all have been. I speak to you today with the utmost tone of respect and admiration. No one could possibly imagine the burden that now sits on your shoulders and you all will forever have the respect of myself and my family for taking on this challenge the way you all have. For that, we all wish to sincerely thank you for your service to our community. I believe in a time such as this, it is the governing body's obligation to provide any sense of normalcy to a concerned and panicked populous when and where they can. With the previous election year turnout of approximately 300 voters from the early voting period to election day, it would counter the current recommendations of social distancing to take an occasion in which there would never be more than 10 people in a polling location at one time, or even in the span of an hour, and change it to a date coinciding with a presidential election which insures there will be a larger number of people gathered at the same time. There are measures available that can be put in place to ensure minimal exposure especially to an area that will have a tiny fraction of the local Walmart's foot traffic for example. Citizens taking a trip to Walmart are far more likely to result in infection than one single trip to the voting booth because the foot traffic is incomparable between the two. At last year's candidate forum, I warned of impending events like this and the fact the city will be faced with never before seen issues which will require strong leadership that is open to ideas. Now is the chance to show the people that the city can still operate in times of crisis. A local Anna Election polling location is one that is sure to be one of the safest places during a pandemic as it is always devoid of many people, much less crowds of more than ten people that aren't already 6 feet apart. I understand that keeping crowds to a minimum is a prime directive right now but in the case of Anna's local elections I do not foresee any kind of large gathering at the polling location. I do not see this to be an issue where anyone would be put at risk to their health. There are currently many businesses and services operating within reasonable guidelines in order to adhere to the current recommendations by the County and State government. I am urging the city to continue with the elections as planned in order to give us, the people, some sense that things are normal, even if it is a new normal. I believe that there is just as good of a chance we will not be able to vote in November for the same reasons we are considering postponing a vote now. There is an empty spot on the city council and if it remains open for almost a year it may send the message that spot was never needed to be filled to begin with. Following that logic, the people may start wondering why we need any council spots at all. Thank you for your service and leadership in this time, it has been a great comfort to myself and my family, Bryan Heath I%orO�ciaf Use: Route To: , i December 20, 2019 Response By: Council Speaker Sign4n Sheet City Manager or Designee