REGULAR MEETING OF THE 2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Thursday March 7, 2024, at 5:30 P.M. Austin City Hall, Boards & Commissions Rm 301 W 2nd St AUSTIN, TEXAS Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely or in person, please register here https://cityofaustin.formstack.com/forms/2024charterreviewcommission_townhall. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jessica Palvino, Chair Ryan Botkin Cynthia Van Maanen Julio Altamirano Randy Ortega Betsy Greenberg Alejandro Garcia, Vice Chair JC Dwyer Brian McGiverin Michael O Cowles Megan Lasch AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Conduct a public hearing to receive feedback regarding proposed amendments to the City Charter recommended by the 2024 Charter Review Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Approve the minutes of the 2024 Charter Review Commission regular meeting of February 15, 2024, and meeting of February 29, 2024. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action on the Petition Process Working Groups initial recommendation report on revisions to the petition process. (Commissioners Cowles, Dwyer, and McGiverin) 4. Discussion and possible action regarding community engagement of the Charter Review process from the Outreach Work Group. 5. Discussion and possible action on the review and finalization of the draft report to Council. 6. Discussion and possible action of future meetings and meeting location. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American 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 Myrna Rios at the Office of the City Clerk, at (512) 974-2210 or myrna.rios@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the 2024 Charter Review Commission, please contact Myrna Rios at myrna.rios@austintexas.gov
2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING March 7, 2024 The 2024 Charter Review Commission convened in a regular meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2024, Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Room 1029, Austin, Texas. Chair Palvino called the Commission Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Commissioner Cowles Commissioner Lasch Commissioner Van Maanen Commissioner Ortega Commissioner Greenberg Commission Members in Attendance: Chair Palvino Vice Chair Garcia Commissioner Botkin Commissioner Dwyer Commissioner McGivern Commission Altamirano Staff in Attendance: Myrna Rios, City Clerk’s Office Erika Brady, City Clerk’s Office Neal Falgoust, Law Department Wajiha Rizvi, Law Department PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Joe Riddell PUBLIC HEARING 1. Conduct a public hearing to receive feedback regarding proposed amendments to the City Charter recommended by the 2024 Charter Review Commission. Speakers: Kathy Mitchell, Joe Riddell, and Ed Espinoza. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Approve the minutes of the 2024 Charter Review Commission regular meeting of February 15, 2024, and meeting of February 29, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2024, meeting, and February 29, 2024 meeting were approved on Commissioner Greenberg’s motion, Commissioner Cowles second on an 11-0 vote. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action on the Petition Process Working Groups initial recommendation report on revisions to the petition process. (Commissioners Cowles, Dwyer, and McGiverin) A renewed motion to approve the “3.5% signature threshold” was made by Commissioner Botkin, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer on a 6-5 vote. Those voting aye: Chair Palvino, Vice Chair Garcia, Commissioners Botkin, Dwyer, Lasch, and Altamirano. Those voting no: Commissioners Greenberg, McGiverin, Van Maanen, Cowles, and Ortega. 4. Discussion and possible action regarding community engagement of the Charter Review process from the Outreach Work Group. No further action required. 5. Discussion and possible action on the review and finalization of the draft report to Council. The overview of the draft report was made by Wajiha Rizvi, Law Department. No action was taken. 6. Discussion and possible action of future meetings and meeting location. The motion to approve a special called meeting on March 21, 2024, was made by Commissioner Van Maanen, seconded by Commissioner Lasch on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Greenberg abstained. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned without objection at 6:23 p.m. The minutes were approved on March 21, 2024, on Commissioner Van Maanen’s motion, Commissioner Botkin’s …
2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING February 15, 2024 The 2024 Charter Review Commission convened in a regular meeting on Thursday, February 15, 2024, Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Room 1029, Austin, Texas. Chair Palvino called the Commission Meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Commissioners Dwyer and Lasch attended virtually. Vice Chair Garcia absent. Commissioner Cowles Commissioner Lasch Commissioner Van Maanen Commissioner Ortega Commissioner Greenberg Commission Members in Attendance: Vice Chair Garcia (absent) Commissioner Botkin Commissioner Dwyer Commissioner McGivern (virtual) Commission Altamirano Staff in Attendance: Myrna Rios, City Clerk’s Office Caroline Webster, Law Department PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Joe Riddell APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the 2024 Charter Review Commission regular meeting of January 30, 2024, and February 8, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes from the January 30, 2024 meeting, and February 8, 2024 meeting were approved on Commissioner Lasch’s motion, Commissioner Botkin’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner McGiverin was off the dais. Vice Chair Garcia absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Discussion and possible action on the City Attorney Working Group initial recommendation report. (Chair Palvino, Commissioners Garcia and McGiverin) The presentation on the City Attorney Working Group recommendations was made by Chair Palvino. Recommendation #1: The City Manager appoints City Attorney, with confirmation by City Council. 1 Recommendation #2: Council is assigned a designated attorney with the city attorney’s office. The motion to approve Recommendation #1 was made by Commissioner Lasch, seconded by Commissioner Botkin on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner McGiverin was off the dais, Commissioner Greenberg abstained. Vice Chair Garcia absent. 3. Discussion and possible action on the Petition Process Working Groups initial recommendation report on revisions to the petition process. (Commissioners Cowles, Dwyer, and McGiverin) The presentation on the Petition Process Working Group recommendations was made by Commissioner Dwyer. No action was taken. 4. Discussion and possible action on the Initiative/Charter/Referendum Mechanics Work Groups initial recommendation on proposition lettering. (Commissioners Altamirano, Botkin, and Ortega) The presentation on the Initiative/Charter/Referendum Mechanics Work Group recommendations was made by Commissioner Van Maanen. The motion to approve the recommendations was made by Commissioner Van Maanen, seconded by Commissioner Ortega on ab 8-1 vote. Commissioner Greenberg voted no. Commissioner McGiverin was off the dais. Vice Chair Garcia absent. 5. Discussion and possible action on Recall Petitions Work Group recommendations. (Commissioner Van Maanen) The presentation on the Recall Petitions Work Group recommendations was made …
2024 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING February 29, 2024 The 2024 Charter Review Commission convened in a regular meeting on Thursday, February 29, 2024, Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Room 1029, Austin, Texas. Chair Palvino called the Commission Meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Commissioner Botkin absent. Commissioner Cowles Commissioner Lasch Commissioner Van Maanen Commissioner Ortega Commissioner Greenberg Commission Members in Attendance: Chair Palvino Vice Chair Garcia Commissioner Botkin (absent) Commissioner Dwyer Commissioner McGivern Commission Altamirano Staff in Attendance: Myrna Rios, City Clerk’s Office Neal Falgoust, Law Department Wajiha Rizvi, Law Department (virtual) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Miriam Schoenfield Joe Riddell APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the 2024 Charter Review Commission regular meeting of February 15, 2024. Withdrawn STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Law Department briefing regarding staff proposed charter revisions. The presentation was made by Neal Falgoust, Law Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action on the City Attorney Working Group initial recommendation report. (Chair Palvino, Commissioners Garcia and McGiverin) 1 The presentation on the City Attorney Working Group “Recommendation #2 Council is assigned a designated attorney with the city attorney’s office” was made by Vice Chair Garcia. The motion to approve recommendation #2 was made by Chair Palvino, seconded by Commissioner Altamirano on an 8-2 vote. Commissioners Ortega and Greenberg voted no. Commissioner Botkin absent. 4. Discussion and possible action on the Initiative/Charter/Referendum Mechanics Work Groups initial recommendation on proposition lettering. (Commissioners Altamirano, Botkin, and Ortega) No further action required. 5. Discussion and possible action on the Petition Process Working Groups initial recommendation report on revisions to the petition process. (Commissioners Cowles, Dwyer, and McGiverin) The presentation on the Petition Process Working Group “Letter of Intent” recommendation was presented by Commissioner Van Maanen. The motion to approve the recommendation was made by Commissioner Cowles, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Botkin absent. The presentation on the Petition Process Working Group “3.5 % Signature Threshold” was presented by Commissioner Dwyer. The motion to approve the “5% signature threshold” was made by Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Cowles on a 1-9 vote. Commissioner Dwyer voted yes. Those voting no: Chair Palvino, Vice Chair Garcia, Commissioner’s Altamirano, Greenberg, McGiverin, Van Maanen, Lasch, Cowles, and Ortega. Commissioner Botkin absent. The motion failed. The motion to approve the “3.5% signature threshold” was made by Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Altamirano on a 5-5 vote. …
