By Mark Cerny

During the July 6, 2010 regular City Council meeting the council acted upon the recommendations from the Council Interview Panel regarding appointing or reappointing board members to various city corporations and boards; discussed a preliminary landscape design for the streetscape of FM 544; authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with WHR Architects for Phase II design for the Old Murphy School Community Center Project; and held discussions pursuant to proposed City Charter amendments including the ethics ordinance and the draft governance policy.

By a vote of 5-1 (councilmember Bradley in opposition – councilmember Daniel absent) the council approved the following appointments, with terms to begin immediately:
• 4A Economic Development Corporation – Mike Smith, David Cooper, and Charles Buescher to a term ending 2012;
• 4B Community Development Corporation– Eric Hemphill, Brian Jones, and Brian Epstein to a term ending 2012;
• Board of Adjustments – Andrew Chase, Ty Holcomb, Scott Holden, and Christine Johnson to a term ending 2012 and Milkit Sroya as an alternate to fill an unexpired term ending 2011;
• Building and Fire Code Appeals Board – Donald Decker to a term ending  2012;
• Park and Recreation Board – Jasmine Bayliss, Cary Walker, Julia Baldwin, and Paula Harper to a term ending 2012 and Brian Jones and Eric Lopez to fill unexpired terms ending 2011;
• Planning and Zoning Commission – Ty Holcomb, Gene Patterson, John McKay, and Stephanie Merrifield to a term ending 2012 and Gus Delaloye and Jane Jan as alternates to fill unexpired terms ending 2011; and
• Animal Shelter Advisory Committee – Tammy Drake (Animal Control Officer – no term), Lorraine Chalkley, Dave Brandon, and Bobby Russel to a term ending 2012, and Beverly Mueller and Stephanie Pennington to a term ending 2012.
 
Kim Lenoir, Community Services Manager, presented the council with MESA Design Group’s landscape concept designs for the streetscape of FM 544. MESA was seeking council feedback for its initial plan outlining residential and civic core landscaping designed to give the impression of “driving through a landscape.” Following discussion the council advised that the MESA plan should focus on FM 544 median development that can be developed as quickly as possible without impacting road edgeways.
 
Lenoir next presented WHR Architects’ Phase II concept design for the Old Murphy School Community Center project. The council noted that the Park and Recreation Board and the 4A Economic Development Corporation had previously favorably reviewed the design concept. The council unanimously authorized moving forward with the concept as outlined, conditioned upon the city attorney’s review of the contractual relationship with WHR.
 
City Manager James Fisher reported on the Charter amendments, including the draft ethics ordinance and the draft governance policy. Following discussion over aspects of the amendments, which included the city’s complaint and hearing process, the applicability of Robert’s Rules of Order to council procedure, and the procedures for citizen input before and during council sessions, the council determined that the Charter Review Committee would be invited to attend the following Monday’s council work session to further discuss the amendments.

Murphy resident Don Kiertscher (pictured) addressed the council on his concerns regarding aspects of the governance policy on meetings and citizen input.

The next City Council meeting will be held on July 19th, 6 p.m., at City Hall.