Loading...
2001 03 26 CC Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN March 26, 2001 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in regular session on March 26, 2001, at 4:00 p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following in attendance: Victor Almendarez Council Member Scott Sheley Council Member Ronnie Anderson Council Member Calvin Mundinger Council Member Don Murray Council Member Coleman Godwin Council Member Pete C. Alfaro Mayor Monte Mercer City Manager Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. City Attorney Gary W. Smith City Clerk The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m., after which the following business was conducted: Consider acceptance of the resignation of James S. "Jimmy" Johnson, Jr. as Municipal Court Judge. Council Member Sheley moved acceptance of the resignation of James S. "Jimmy" Johnson, Jr. as Municipal Court Judge. Council Member Mundinger seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Almendarez, Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. The motion carried. Discuss the selection process for Municipal Court Judge. City Manager Monte Mercer reminded Council that the appointment was a Council appointment. His report was to reflect options available to Council, but the decision was Council's. The options include: 1. Appointment of an interim Municipal Court Judge, 2. Appointment of Larry Bailey as the interim Municipal Court Judge, 3. Make no interim appointment, 4. An additional Associate Municipal Court Judge could be appointed, or 5. Contractor visiting judges could be employed. Appointment of an interim judge would allow the Council to observe the performance of the person appointed as interim, but it might create expectations that may or may not reflect the intentions of the Council. If an interim judge is appointed, then an operational plan should be in place to review applications and make a selection of a replacement for the remainder of the term. Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the Special Session —March 26, 2001 Whether the Municipal Judge position should be made a full -time position is a decision that should be made after the new court facility is open and operational. Mayor Alfaro commented that the Council needs time to decide how they want to deal with the situation, therefore, any interim actions should preserve maximum flexibility for the Council. Continuity in the operations of the Court is important. The use of contract judges would allow the Council to have time to review all of the options. Council Member Anderson inquired about the length of the unexpired term and whether any conversations had taken place with Judge Bailey. Council Member Sheley recommended the appointment of a second Associate Municipal Judge. This would preclude any expectation of appointment as Municipal Judge and would allow time for review of the situation. Council Member Mundinger stated his preference for a part-time interim judge for the balance of the term. Council Member Almendarez suggested that the need for a full -time judge be reserved for the budget process. He then inquired how two associate judges would divide the time and workload. Mayor Alfaro agreed that the full -time decision should be delayed and that another judge would help meet the workload in the Court. He then inquired whether Council supported an associate judge, a contract judge or a visiting judge. He suggested that Judge Bailey could cover most of the time in the Court and a contract judge could cover the fourth day of court. Mercer reported that staff will develop a list of contract judges with compensation expectations. Mercer also explained that the compensation to Judge Bailey would be adjusted to cover the additional time that he will spend in court. Council Member Almendarez requested that the information on contract judges be provided to Council along with a proposed work schedule. Council Member Anderson inquired about how the on -call situations would be handled. Council Member Sheley observed that the associate judge is compensated on a daily basis. Any contract must have time limits imposed. Mayor Alfaro directed the City Manager to gather information on compensation; analyze the impact on Judge Bailey; and compare the costs between an interim associate judge and a contract judge. Additionally, Mercer stated that an adjustment would be made to the compensation for Judge Bailey and an agreement for the changed compensation would be brought to Council. Consider appointment of an interim Municipal Court Judge. No action. Page 3 of 3 Minutes of the Special Session —March 26, 2001 Consider appointment of contract Associate Municipal Court Judge(s). No action. Consider Resolution No. 010326 -1, concerning legislative districts affecting the City of Baytown. Following the 1990 census, the City of Baytown was placed in three different State House of Representative Districts. While the City has been well served by its current elected representatives, it would be more advantageous for the City to be served by a minimum number of State House of Representative Districts. The current districts are geographically distorted and foster voter confusion. The Resolution supports a redistricting plan that places the City of Baytown in a minimum number of districts. Council Member Sheley moved approval of the resolution. Council Member Almendarez seconded the motion. Council Member Murray questioned whether the preamble was correct in stating that the current districting plan fosters voter apathy. Council Member Sheley accepted a friendly amendment to his motion to delete the words "and apathy" from the resolution. Council Member Almendarez also accepted the amendment. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Almendarez, Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. The motion carried. RESOLUTION NO. 1480 • RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, SUPPORTING • REDISTRICTING PLAN THAT WILL PLACE THE CITY OF BAYTOWN IN A MINIMUM NUMBER OF STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. Adjourn. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m. i Gafy W./Smith City Clerk