2018 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MAY 7, 2018 at 6:30 P.M. Austin City Hall, Room 1029 301 W. 2nd Street AUSTIN, TEXAS CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Joy Authur Roger Borgelt Martha Cotera Matt Hersh Fred Lewis Diego Martinez-Moncada Karl-Thomas Musselman Jessica Palvino Jeff Smith Tane Ward Ingrid Weigand AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1) CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 2) APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) Approval of minutes from April 16, 2018 Regular meeting. 3) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS The Commission may discuss and take action on the following agenda items: a) Proposed amendments to the Public Campaign Voucher Program. b) Proposed amendments to the Independent Ethics Review Commission. c) Review and finalize report to Council. 4) FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and identify additional meeting dates and future agenda items, topics or presentations. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call or email Myrna Rios or Jannette Goodall with the City Clerk’s Office, (512-974-2210 or myrna.rios@austintexas.gov or jannette.goodall@austintexas.gov), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the 2018 Charter Review Commission, please contact Jannette Goodall at 512-974-2210.
2018 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES APRIL 16, 2018 The 2018 Charter Review Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018, Austin City Hall, Room 1029, 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas. Chair Palvino called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: Commissioner Borgelt Commissioner Cotera Commissioner Lewis Commissioner Musselman Commissioner Hersh Chair Palvino Commissioner Smith Commissioner Ward Vice-Chair Weigand Commission Members in Absent: Commissioners Authur and Martinez-Moncada Staff in Attendance: Jannette Goodall, City Clerk’s Office Myrna Rios, City Clerk’s Office Lynn Carter, Law Department 1) CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) Speakers were: Peck Young, Debbie Russell and Paul Robbins. 2) APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) Approval of minutes from March 12, 2018 Regular meeting, March 28th, April 3rd, April 7th, April 12th, 2018 Public Hearings. The motion to approve the minutes from the March 12, 2018 Regular meeting, March 28th, April 3rd, and April 7th, 2018 Public Hearings was approved without objection on Commissioner Borgelt’s motion, Vice-Chair Weigand’s second. The April 12th, 2018 Public Hearing was cancelled, no minutes were prepared. 3) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS The Commission may discuss and take action on the following agenda items: a) Proposed amendments to the Independent Ethics Review Commission. Speaker: Brian Thompson. A motion to revise Section 1.02 to read “The Commission shall be composed of five (5) members, who shall be selected per Subchapter V below. The Commission shall select its chair from among its members.” was approved on Commissioner Lewis’ motion, Chair Palvino’s second on a 9-0 vote. 1 A motion to revise Section 1.03 to read “All Commissioners shall be registered voters and be residents of Austin for at least 5 years prior to appointment. All Commissioners shall not have served for three years before their appointment as an elected official, political consultant, officer or employee in a political party (other than a precinct chair), lobbyist, City of Austin employee, City of Austin contractor, or candidate for state or local government. All Commissioners shall have demonstrated impartiality and have expertise in relevant subject matters, which may include ethics, conflicts of interest, transparency, campaign finance, investigations, or enforcement. All Commissioner shall attest to their support for administering and enforcing all laws under the Commission’s jurisdiction. Commissioners not maintaining these qualifications automatically forfeit their office and can no longer serve on the Commission in any capacity.” was made by …
2018 Charter Review Commission Report to City Council [date] 1 Contents 2018 Charter Review Executive Summary ............................................................................. 4 2018 Charter Review Commission Overview ................................................................................... 6 Recommendation No. 1: Democracy Dollars ................................................................................... 8 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................... 8 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 11 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation: ........................................................................... 17 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures: ........................ 18 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Recommendation No. 2: Independent Ethics Commission ..............................................................19 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 19 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 19 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 29 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures: ........................ 29 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Recommendation No. 3: City Budget and Efficiency Officer ............................................................31 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 31 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 31 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 32 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures: ........................ 32 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Recommendation No. 4: Citizen-Initiated Petitions and Initiatives ..................................................33 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 35 Policy Reasons for the Recommendation ................................................................................................................... 35 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 35 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 36 Proposed Ballot Language ............................................................................................................................................... 36 Recommendation No. 5: Recall of a Mayor or Council Member .......................................................37 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 39 Policy Reasons for the Recommendation ................................................................................................................... 39 2 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 40 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures: ........................ 40 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 40 Recommendation No. 6: City Attorney ..........................................................................................41 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 41 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 41 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 42 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 42 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 42 Recommendation No. 7: Planning and Zoning Commission .............................................................43 Background, Policy Reasons for the Recommendation, and Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to …
2018 Charter Review Commission Report to City Council May 7, 2018 1 Contents 2018 Charter Review Executive Summary ............................................................................. 4 2018 Charter Review Commission Overview ................................................................................... 6 Recommendation No. 1: Democracy Dollars ................................................................................... 8 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................... 8 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 11 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 11 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 12 Proposed Ballot Language ............................................................................................................................................... 13 Recommendation No. 2: Independent Ethics Commission ..............................................................14 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 14 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 15 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 16 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 17 Proposed Ballot Language ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Recommendation No. 3: City Budget and Efficiency Officer ............................................................19 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 19 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 19 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 20 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 20 Proposed Ballot Language ............................................................................................................................................... 20 Recommendation No. 4: Citizen-Initiated Petitions and Initiatives ..................................................21 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 23 Policy Reasons for the Recommendation ................................................................................................................... 23 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 23 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 24 Proposed Ballot Language ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Recommendation No. 5: Recall of a Mayor or Council Member .......................................................25 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter: .......................................... 27 Policy Reasons for the Recommendation ................................................................................................................... 27 2 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 28 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 28 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Recommendation No. 6: City Attorney ..........................................................................................29 Background and Policy Reasons for the Recommendation .................................................................................. 29 Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or Repeals to the Charter ........................................... 29 Estimated Fiscal Budgetary Impact for the Recommendation ............................................................................ 30 Impact of the Recommendation on Existing City Laws, Rules, Practices and Procedures .......................... 30 Proposed Ballot Language: .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Recommendation No. 7: Planning and Zoning Commission .............................................................31 Background, Policy Reasons for the Recommendation, and Substance of the Proposed Amendments, Revisions or 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Charter Review Commission Draft Charter Amendment of An Independent Ethics Commission (after 4/16/2018 CRC meeting and additional FL suggestions) AUSTIN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION Subchapter I - Commission 1.01. Commission Jurisdiction. The Austin Independent Ethics Commission is established to impartially and effectively administer and enforce all city laws relating to campaign finance, campaign disclosure, conflicts of interest, financial statement disclosure, lobbyist regulations, revolving door, disqualification of members of city boards, certain conflict of interest and ethics laws, and other responsibilities assigned the Commission. 1.02. Commission Membership The Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members, who shall be selected per Subchapter V below. The Commission shall select its chair from among its members. 1.03. Qualifications. All Commissioners shall be registered voters and be residents of Austin for at least 5 years prior to appointment. All Commissioners shall not have served for three years before their appointment as an elected official, political consultant, officer or employee in a political party (other than a precinct chair), lobbyist, City of Austin employee, City of Austin contractor, or candidate for state or local government , or registered lobbyist, or required to register as a lobbyist, with the City or assist such a lobbyistas defined in the Austin City Code.[FL1] . All Commissioners shall have demonstrated impartiality and have expertise in relevant subject matters, which may include ethics, conflicts of interest, transparency, campaign finance, investigations, civil rights, labor, or enforcement. All Commissioner shall attest to their support for administering and enforcing all laws under the Commission’s jurisdiction. Commissioners not maintaining these qualifications automatically forfeit their office and can no longer serve on the Commission in any capacity. 1.04. Terms. Members of the Commission shall serve for a term of five (5) years ending on May 1 of the fifth year of such term and until their successors are appointed and qualify; except the initial five commissioners to be appointed shall by lot classify their terms so that the term of one commissioner shall expire on each of the second, third, and fourth anniversaries of their terms on May 1 of such year respectively and two commissioners on the 5th anniversary of their terms in May; and, on the expiration of these and successive terms of office, the appointments shall be 1 made for five-year terms. The initial shortened terms shall be appointed from the Commissioners from the existing applicant pool pursuant to subchapter 5. No person …
