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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 11, 2008DELORIS "BOBBIE" PRINCE, MAYOR MICHAEL "SHANE" SINEGAL, MAYOR PRO-TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS: JACK CHATMAN, JR. CAL JONES THOMAS J. HENDERSON MARTIN FLOOD JOHN BEARD, JR. ROBERT E. WILLIAMSON WILLIE "BAE" LEWIS AGENDA City Council Special Meeting March 11, 2008 4:00 p.m. STEPHEN FITZGIBBONS CITY MANAGER TERRI HANKS ACTING CITY SECRETARY MARK T. SOKOLOW CITY ATTORNEY In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the City of Port Arthur will provide for reasonable accommodations for persons attending City Council meetings. To better serve you, requests should be received 24 hours prior to the meeting. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at (409) 983-8115. P.O. BOX 1089 • PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS 77641-1089 • 409/983-8115 • FAX 409/983-8291 Special City Council Meeting City Hall Council Chamber City Of Port Arthur March 11, 2008 4:00 PM PLEASE TURN OFF OR MUTEALL CELL PHONES INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL Mayor Prince Mayor Pro Tem Sinegal Councilmember Chatman Councilmember Jones Councilmember Henderson Councilmember Flood Councilmember Beard Councilmember Williamson Councilmember Lewis City Manager Fitzgibbons Acting City Secretary Hanks City Attorney Sokolow Sergeant At Arms: Police Chief Blanton Or Designee II. *CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION In Order To Comply With The Requirements Of Section 551.101 Of Chapter 551 (Open Meetings Law) Of The Texas Government Code [Formerly Article 6252- 17, Section 2(a)], Prior To Going Into Closed Meeting The Presiding Officer Of The City Should Make The Following Public Announcement: "A Closed Meeting Or Executive Session Will Now Be Held Pursuant To The Following Sections Of Chapter 551 Texas Government Code": Section 551.071 -Litigation And/Or Legal Advice Section 551.072 -Land Section 551.073 -Negotiated Contracts For Prospective Gifts To The City Section 551.074 -Personnel Section 551.076 -Security Personnel Or Devices Section 551.087 -Deliberations Regarding Economic Development Incentives Closed Meetin (1) Section 551.074 Government Code - To Discuss The Duties And Responsibilities Of The City Secretary And Staff (Requested By Councilmember Beard) SPECIAL AGENDA March 11, 2008 II. *CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION -CONTINUED (2) Section 551.074 Government Code - To Discuss The Duties And Evaluation Of The Municipal Court Judge (3) Section 551.071 Government Code - To Discuss With The City Attorney Potential Litigation As To Pipeline Alignment (4) Section 551.074 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives For Commercial, Residential, And Industrial Business Prospects (Requested By Councilmember Beard) (5) Section 551.073 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of The Maritime Building Being Offered As A Donation To The City (Requested By Councilmember Beard) (6) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Economic Incentives For The Anchor Drive Area (7) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of Property Along Plaza Street Drive (8) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of Land At The Robert Bowers Civic Center (9) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of Land On The Westside (10) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of Land At 3248 39t" Street (11) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss The Value Of Land At 3510 Lake Arthur *The Items In Executive Session May Be Discussed And Acted On In Open Session III. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING NOTE: If Evening Meeting Extends Past 11:59PM, The City Council May Elect To Recess The Meeting And Reconvene At 8:30AM On March 12, 2008. During The Recess, No Action Will Be Taken On Any Item Of Remaining Business And No Executive Sessions Will Be Held To Discuss Any Matters, All In Accordance With The Open Meetings Law 2 RULES OF DECORUM -PERSONS ADDRESSING COUNCIL & AUDIENCE MEMBERS 1. Recognition by Presiding Officer. No person shall address the Council without first being recognized by the Presiding Officer. 2. Speaking Procedure; Limitation on discussion and questioning. Each person addressing the Council shall step up to the microphone provided for the use of the public and give his name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records, state that subject he wishes to discuss, state whom he is representing if he represents an organization or other person, and unless further time is granted by majority vote of the Council, shall limit his remarks to five (5) minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a whole and not to any member thereof. No person other than members of the Council and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, whether directly or through a member of the Council, without the permission of the Presiding Officer. 3. Improper References, Disorder/y Conduct By Person Addressing The Council; Any person making, expressly or impliedly, personal, impertinent, slanderous, derogatory, discourteous, snide, or profane remarks or who willfully utters loud, threatening or abusive language, or engages, in any disorderly conduct which would impede, disrupt, or disturb the orderly conduct, the order by the Presiding Officer, and if such conduct continues, may, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer, be ordered barred from further audience before the Council during that Meeting. 4. Addresses After Motion Made or Pub/icHearing Closed, After a motion has been made or a public hearing has been closed, no member of the public shall address the Council from the audience on the matter under consideration without first securing permission to do so by majority vote of the City Council. 5. Campaign Speeches Prohibited, No persons will be allowed to address the City Council by making campaign speeches for or against any candidate who has announced or does announce his intention to run, or issue already ordered on a ballot for election. 6. Disorder/y Conduct: No person in the audience shall engage in disorderly conduct such as hand clapping, stamping of feet, whistling, using profane language, yelling, and similar demonstrations, which conduct disturbs the peace and good order of the meeting. 7. Limitations on Use of Supplemental Lighting. Limitations on use of supplemental lighting for television and motion picture cameras to create the least amount of interference with or disturbance of Council proceedings and/or discomfort to the public. 8. Persons Having Comp/aints, A/legations, or Charges Againstlndividua/ City Employees. No person shall make any complaint, specific allegation, or charge against an individual City Employee by name in a public meeting unless he first shows that he has pursued appropriate administrative channels. ENFORCEMENT OF DECORUM (a) Warning, All persons shall, at the request of the presiding office, be silent. (b) Remova/. If, after receiving a warning from the presiding officer, a member of the public persists in disturbing the meeting, such officer may order him to remove himself from the meeting. If he does not remove himself, the presiding officer may order the sergeant-at-arms to remove him. The Chief of Police, or such members of the Police Department as the presiding officer may designate, shall be sergeant- at-arms of the council meetings. He, or they, shall carry out all orders and instruction given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and dewrum at the council meeting. Upon instruction of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant-at- arms to remove from the meeting any person who intentionally disturbs the proceedings of the council. (c) If after receiving a warning from the presiding officer, a councilmember persists in disturbing the meeting, the presiding officer shall recess the meeting or refer the matter to the city council as to the penalty to be imposed by a majority vote of the council, which can include removing the member from council chambers during the remainder of the meeting or until the council person is prepared to abide by the Rules of Procedure, as adopted by the city council. (d) Resisting removal, Any person who resists removal by the sergeant-at-arms shall be charged with violating V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 42.05. (e) Motion to enforce, Any councilmember may move to require the presiding officer to enforce this division, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the council shall require him to do so. RULES OF PROCEDURE The City Secretary shall make public, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Law, an agenda containing all business to be discussed at a meeting of the City Council. Persons Reouestina To Be Heard On Agenda Items (1) Residents. Any resident who wishes to address the Council on any matter may do so by notifying the City Secretary in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Law. (2) Nonresidents. Any nonresident wishing to address the Council shall notify the City Secretary and specify his interest in the matter being considered. The City Secretary shall present such request to the Presiding Officer for approval before placing the name on the Agenda. Specific Agenda Items After a motion, second and discussion by the City Council on any specific agenda item, and before a vote is taken, the Presiding Officer shall recognize any citizen in the audience wishing to address the council on such item, who shall be permitted to address the Council thereon for a period of three (3) minutes. "Specific Agenda Items" are defined as any item specified on the Notice of Meeting posted for purposes of the Texas Open Meetings Law and which becomes the subject of a motion before the Council.