Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/1999 Study Session MinutesMINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA TOWN COUNCIL APRIL 20, 1999 II. IlL IV. PLACE AND DATE Marana Town Hall, April 20,1999 CALL TO ORDER By Mayor Ora Mae Ham at 6:05 P.M. ROLL CALL COUNCIL Ora M. Harn Bobby Sutton, Jr. Ed Honea Herb Kai Sherry Millner Michael Reuwsaat Roxanne Ziegler Mayor Vice Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Present Present Present Excused Present Present STAFF Michael Hein Dan Hochuli Jocelyn Entz Brad DeSpain Town Manager Town Attorney Town Clerk Utilities Director APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Mike Reuwsaat, seconded by Bobby Sutton, to approve the agenda, as written. The motion carried 6/0. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS ge Discussion/Direction: Potential revisions to the Town Code regarding the direct election of the Mayor. (Dan Hochuli) Mike Hein, Town Manager, gave a brief overview of the potential amendments that needed to be made to the Marana Town Code regarding the direct election of the Mayor. Mr. I-Iein then turned the discussion over to Dan Hochuli, Town Attorney. Dan Hochuli briefly explained the main areas of concern. The first proposed change discussed was code modifications to comply with the Town's current mandate for the direct election of the Mayor. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA TOWN COUNCIL APRIL 20, 1999 This code also includes the dialogue for the selection of the Vice Mayor. The general consensus was that, following the swearing in of the newly elected Council Members, the Vice Mayor's position would be filled by a Council motion, a second of that motion, and a vote for approval or disapproval. The second issue debated was the Resign to Run provision. Mr. Hochuli stated that the Arizona Constitution provided that any paid elected official must resign in order to run for election to another paid elected position. This does not affect the Marana Town Council as members are not paid and certain Council Members would have the opportunity to run for Mayor two years into their Council term. If that Council Member is not elected as Mayor, then the Member would complete the remaining two years of their term on the Council. If elected as Mayor, the Council Member would transfer over to the Mayor's position and the remaining seated Council Members would elect someone from the public to fill the Council vacancy for the remainder of that vacated term. Mr. Hochuli added that he had surveyed other towns with direct elections and found that no other town had a Resign to Run provision. Mayor Ora Mae Ham, Council Member Ed Honea and Vice Mayor Bobby Sutton expressed concern over the filling of the vacancy from the public. Councilman Honea suggested that a simple ordinance could call for a special election to be held concurrently with the general election to fill the vacant Council seat. Mr. Hochuli advised the Council that Arizona law specifically states that any vacancy on the Council in a non-charter city or town must be filled by appointment of the Council. It was agreed by the Council to follow the State law and not to institute a Resign to Run ordinance for Marana. There was no further discussion of this topic. Dan Hochuli advised the Council that the Marana Town Code provided that the new Council was to be sworn in at the first regular Council meeting following the general election or within twenty days of the election. He suggested to the Council that the Town Code be changed to follow the Arizona law that the new Council would be sworn in within twenty days following the date of the general election. This change would make it possible to perform this swearing in at a regular Council meeting, special Council meeting or on a date specified by Council. The Council unanimously agreed that this was best. VI. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA TOWN COUNCIL APRIL 20, 1999 The study session continued with the discussion of procedures for replacing the Mayor if he/she is unable to complete the term. Mr. Hochuli stated that a survey of similar cities and towns revealed that an even division existed between Council appointment of the Vice Mayor to the Mayor's position or election from the Council at- large. Council Member Roxanne Ziegler stated that it would be logical to have the Vice Mayor move into the Mayor's position because the Vice Mayor was more familiar with the duties of the Mayor than other Council members. Council Member Ed Honea suggested that, unless the entire Council was in the same term, this scenario could present some complicated dilemmas such as a newly elected Vice Mayor being forced to accept an expiring term mayoral position. Dan Hochuli explained that this situation was not possible because the Council Member taking over the mayor's position was vacating their Council seat and assuming the Mayor's seat and remaining length of term. Mayor Ora Mae Ham stated that she favored having the Council appoint the new Mayor. It was the unanimous consensus of the Council that the appointment would come from the Council and the interim Mayor would fill the seat until the next election at which time the Town would elect the Mayor. Dan Hochuli stated that he would present the Town Code revisions at the next Council meeting on May 4, 1999. There was no further discussion. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS There were no items. ADIOURNMENT A motion was made by Bobby Sutton, seconded by Mike Reuwsaat, to adjourn. The motion passed 6/0. Time: 6:45 P.M. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council Study Session held on April 20, 1999. I further certify that a quorum was present.