20240229 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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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 Withdrawn STAFF BRIEFINGS 2.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. Those voting yes: Chair Palvino, Vice Chair Garcia, Commissioners Dwyer, Lasch, and Altamirano. Those voting no: Commissioners Greenberg, McGiverin, Van Maanen, Cowles, and Ortega. Commissioner Botkin absent. The motion failed. 6. Discussion and possible action on Recall Petitions Work Group recommendations. (Commissioner Van Maanen) The presentation on Recall Petitions Work Group recommendations “Backup #1 Campaign Contributions” and “Backup #2 Recall signature threshold” was made by Commissioner Van Maanen. The motion to approve “Backup #1 Campaign Contributions” was made by Commissioner Cowles, seconded by Commissioner Ortega on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Botkin absent. 2 The motion to approve “Backup #2 Recall signature threshold” was made by Commissioner Lasch, seconded by Commissioner Altamirano on an 8-2 vote. Vice Chair Garcia and Commissioner Greenberg voted no. Commissioner Botkin absent. 7. Discussion and possible action regarding community engagement of the Charter Review process from the Outreach Work Group. Discussion was conducted, no action taken. 8. Discussion and possible action on the review and finalization of the draft report to Council. Discussion was conducted, no action taken. 9. Discussion and possible action of future meetings and meeting location. No action taken FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 10. The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned without objection at 7:44 p.m. 3