Texas City Attorneys Association

Agenda
4:00 p.m.
2. TCAA fall conference program and attendee list.
3. Fifteenth Annual Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar: Approve date
and speaker program.
5. TCAA board applicant list.
6. 2015 summer conference update.
7. Set date and time for next TCAA board meeting to be held in Austin on January ___, 2015.
8. Other business.
Minutes TCAA Board of Directors
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 – Isla Grand Beach Resort – South Padre Island Board President Mary Kay Fischer called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.
Board members present: Board members absent: Sylvia Firth Karen Horner Frank Garza Dottie Palumbo Alan Bojorquez Mary Kay Fischer Tyrone Cooper Kathy Davis
Paige Mims Karen Kennard Ron Stutes TML staff present: Scott Houston JJ Rocha Lavern Gaines Heather Mahurin Guests present: Thomas Gwodz, City Attorney, Victoria
1. Consider the minutes from the January 24, 2014, board meeting.
Motion by Ron Stutes was made and seconded by Frank Garza to approve the minutes and the minutes were unanimously approved.
2. Thirteenth Annual Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar update and evaluations,
consider video-only for 2015. Staff updated the board on the seminar. After discussion of video-only option for 2015, a motion was made by Alan Bojorquez and seconded by Dottie Palumbo to continue the live version of the seminar in 2015 and beyond. The motion passed 9-1, with Frank Garza voting no.
3. Criteria for Outstanding Mentor Award(s).
Mary Kay Fischer began by suggesting that the award be officially divided into two categories: retired and current. After discussion, Kathy Davis mentioned that two official categories probably aren’t necessary because the board can award more than one at its discretion under the current criteria. Following further discussion, a motion was made by Dottie Palumbo and seconded by Alan Bojorquez that the criteria remain the same and that
the board consider how many mentors to recognize on a case-by-case basis. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Approve program for TCAA Fall Conference in Houston, scheduled for October 2, 2014.
Discuss how speakers are selected for TCAA conferences per Alan Bojorquez. Staff presented the proposed fall program to the board. The legislative forecast was extended to one hour, which eliminated the PUC presentation. A motion was made by Alan Bojorquez and seconded by Frank Garza to approve the program, and the motion passed unanimously. After discussion of the speaker selection process, the consensus was that no change is needed.
5. TCAA/TxAPA Land Use Seminar per Alan.
After discussion about whether TCAA should join with TxAPA to provide a land use seminar for elected officials, a motion was made by Karen Kennard and seconded by Dottie Palumbo that TCAA not participate in a joint seminar, and that the proper action for TxAPA would be to contact TML. The motion passed unanimously.
6. Adopt TCAA budget for fiscal year 2014-2015. Staff reported on the proposed 2014-2015 budget, including the proposed deficit. Dottie requested “group rate” pricing, but no motion was made. The previous vote to continue Riley Fletcher as a live conference necessitated putting those revenue and expense provisions back into the proposed budget. A motion was made by Frank Garza and seconded by Kathy Davis to adopt the budget as corrected and the motion was unanimously approved.
7. Adjourn.
The next TCAA Board meeting will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Houston on October 1, 2014, in Room 332A of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
TAB
2
2014
GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER HOUSTON
Special Thanks to Our TCAA Sponsors Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP Bojorquez Law Firm, PLLC Boyle & Lowry, L.L.P. Brown & Hofmeister, L.L.P. Davidson, Troilo, Ream & Garza, P.C. Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde & Zech, P.C.
Drayovitch, P.C. Herrera & Boyle, PLLC McKibben & Villareal Law Offices of Ryan Henry, P.L.L.C. Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. McKamie Krueger, LLP
Messer, Rockefeller & Fort, PLLC Municipal Code Corporation Nichols, Jackson, Dillard, Hager & Smith, L.L.P. Olson & Olson, L.L.P. Potter Minton, P.C. Ross, Banks, May, Cron & Cavin, P.C.
Russell & Rodriguez, L.L.P. Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam, L.L.P. Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Wolfe, Tidwell & McCoy, L.L.P.
Texas City Attorneys Association Fall Conference in conjuction with
4.75 Hours of CLE Credit (Including 1 Ethics Hour) • Thursday, October 2, 2014 • Houston
TCAAMidYearMeeting2014_Layout 1 8/13/14 11:42 AM Page 1
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks TCAA President Mary K. Fischer, City Attorney, Angleton; David Feldman, City Attorney, Houston
9:15 - 9:45 a.m. Background Checks – When Are They Permissible (.5 hr) Monte Akers, Akers Law Firm, Austin
9:45 - 10:15 a.m. Outdoor Lighting Ordinances (.5 hr) Alan Bojorquez, Bojorquez Law Firm, Austin
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Recent State Cases of Interest to Cities (.5 hr) Ryan Henry, Law Offices of Ryan Henry, San Antonio
11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Recent Federal Cases of Interest to Cities (.75 hr) Randy Montgomery, D. Randall Montgomery and Associates, Dallas
Noon - 1:45 p.m. TML Delegates Luncheon and Presentation (Separate Ticketed Event) or Lunch on Your Own
2:00 - 2:15 p.m. Business Meeting Election of TCAA Officers and Passing of the Gavel
2:15 - 2:45 p.m. What’s Left of the Voting Rights Act (.5 hr) Bob Heath, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, Austin
2:45 - 3:45 p.m. Ethical Dilemmas with Advising City Officials (1 hr) Slater Elza, Underwood Law Firm, Amarillo
3:45 - 4:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
Texas City Attorneys Association Fall Conference 4.75 Hours of CLE Credit (Including 1 Ethics Hour)
Thursday, October 2, 2014 – Houston
Agenda
TCAA Texas City Attorneys Association 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400 Austin, TX 78754-5010
For more information or to register, go to www.texascityattorneys.org
TCAAMidYearMeeting2014_Layout 1 8/13/14 11:42 AM Page 2
Reg ID Client ID First Name Last Name Organization Position Name Position Code 502803 7669 Bobbi Kacz City of Alvin City Attorney ASAS 501634 22882 Marcus Norris City of Amarillo City Attorney ASAS 501305 17241 Mary Kay Fischer City of Angleton City Attorney ASAS 504620 22627 David Barber City of Arlington Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
501522 22631 Jay Doegey City of Arlington City Attorney ASAS 501311 11394 Karen Kennard City of Austin City Attorney ASAS 503765 56647 Mike Garner City of Baytown Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
Attorney
ASGG
504364 64290 DEANIE KING CITY OF BAYTOWN City Attorney ASAS 503755 22590 Ignacio Ramirez City of Baytown City Attorney ASAS 502414 22432 Tyrone Cooper City of Beaumont City Attorney ASAS 502390 30785 Linda Sjogren City of Big Spring City Attorney ASAS 502137 56320 Gerald Benadum City of Bishop City Attorney ASAS 501617 4899 Paul Fukuda City of Bridge City City Attorney ASAS 502754 56355 Lina Trevino City of Brownfield City Attorney ASAS 502499 17300 Janis Hampton City of Bryan City Attorney ASAS 501870 7188 Charles Morton City of Bullard City Attorney ASAS 501596 67814 Lydia Saenz City of Carrizo Springs Attorney ASSA 501718 53748 J. P. LeCompte City of Cedar Park City Attorney ASAS 503338 32122 Roberta Cross City of College Station Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
503339 63911 John Haislet City of College Station Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
503340 67034 Jennifer Hebert City of College Station Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
503332 15387 Carla Robinson City of College Station City Attorney ASAS 501240 21939 Marcus Winberry City of Conroe City Attorney ASAS 504759 18162 Julian Grant City of Corpus Christi City Attorney ASAS 502345 13249 Jim Fox City of Deer Park City Attorney ASAS 501749 31031 Courtney Goodman-Morris City of Denison City Attorney ASAS
PositionCodeRoster TML 2014 Annual Conference & Exhibition
September 30th - October 3rd, 2014
Report Ran On: 9/16/2014 11:38:46 AM
TML City Attorneys Registered as of September 16, 2014
Reg ID Client ID First Name Last Name Organization Position Name Position Code
Report Ran On: 9/16/2014 11:38:46 AM
501916 10831 Bobby Maldonado City of Dilley City Attorney ASAS 502762 21352 Arthur Val Perkins City of El Lago City Attorney ASAS 502041 9650 Sylvia Borunda Firth City of El Paso City Attorney ASAS 501802 21142 Patricia McGowan City of Fredericksburg City Attorney ASAS 501316 23801 Dorothy Palumbo City of Galveston City Attorney ASAS 501335 20943 Jackie Williamson City of Gonzales City Attorney ASAS 503795 67033 John Wallace City of Houston Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
504662 20556 Charles Anderson City of Irving City Attorney ASAS 504663 35461 Kuruvilla Oommen City of Irving Deputy City Attorney ASIV 504664 47439 Janet Spugnardi City of Irving Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
504309 20377 Jim DeFoyd City of Jacinto City City Attorney ASAS 501127 21365 Michael Hayes City of Kerrville City Attorney ASAS 501299 22893 Kathryn Davis City of Killeen City Attorney ASAS 501282 9824 Courtney Alvarez City of Kingsville City Attorney ASAS 501932 60233 Jim Wright City of Livingston City Attorney ASAS 504027 19660 G. Chadwick Weaver City of Lubbock Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
Attorney
ASGG
502062 13860 Caroline Kelley City of Missouri City City Attorney ASAS 501179 19260 Larry Long City of Odessa City Attorney ASAS 504321 27137 Ronald Stutes City of Palestine City Attorney ASAS 503827 14272 James Shepherd City of Parker City Attorney ASAS 503312 16616 Nghiem Doan City of Pearland Deputy City Attorney ASIV 502924 4512 Leslie Spear City of Plainview City Attorney ASAS 502604 26415 Paige Mims City of Plano City Attorney ASAS 501367 35348 Valecia Tizeno City of Port Arthur Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
502089 57795 Anne Marie Odefey City of Port Lavaca City Attorney ASAS 502279 60520 Carly Wall City of Port Lavaca Attorney ASSA 502768 61209 Terry Baiamonte City of Rockport City Attorney ASAS
TML City Attorneys Registered as of September 16, 2014
Reg ID Client ID First Name Last Name Organization Position Name Position Code
Report Ran On: 9/16/2014 11:38:46 AM
503626 2663 Jason Day City of Royse City City Attorney ASAS 501738 18448 Ellis Ortego City of Santa Fe City Attorney ASAS 503842 18243 Randy Thomas City of Stephenville City Attorney ASAS 503893 22746 Eugenia Cano City of Sugar Land Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
503894 55411 Meredith Riede City of Sugar Land Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
Attorney
ASGG
504482 2862 DEBORAH PULLUM CITY OF TYLER City Attorney ASAS 504191 47351 Thomas Gwosdz City of Victoria City Attorney ASAS 502970 17376 Guy Goodson City of Vidor City Attorney ASAS 501079 60173 Jennifer Richie City of Waco City Attorney ASAS 503577 10997 Julia Vasquez City of Wichita Falls Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
504043 7279 Larry Foerster City of Willis City Attorney ASAS 502160 26670 Frank Garza Davidson Troilo Ream Attorney ASSA 502562 29563 Rebecca Brewer Frisco, Melissa and Wylie City Attorney ASAS 503847 61516 Randy Cain Randy C. Cain, Attorney at Law 504322 69502 Ben Stool Town of Highland Park Assistant City
Attorney
ASGG
TAB
3
The Sixteenth Annual Riley Fletcher Basic Municipal Law Seminar February ___, 2015
Two Ways to Attend: Live at Texas Municipal Center, Austin or Live Videocast
8 Hours MCLE (Including .75 Ethics Hour)
Thursday, February __, 2015
Karen Kennard, City Attorney, Austin and TCAA President
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. Types of City Government (.25 hour)
Heather Mahurin, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League
9:45 - 10:15 a.m. Dealing with the Media (.5 hour)
John Bender, Communications Consultant, Austin
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. Public Information Act (.5 hour)
Christy Drake-Adams, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League
10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Economic Development (.5 hour)
Bill Longley, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Municipal Budget and Tax Rate (.5 hour)
Leela Fireside, Assistant City Attorney, Austin
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Box Lunch – Ethics (.75 hour)
Erin A. Higginbotham, Denton, Navarro, Rocha & Bernal, Austin
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Municipal Finance (.5 hour)
Kuruvilla Oommen, Deputy City Attorney, Irving
1:30 - 2:00 p.m. Purchasing (.5 hour)
Jeff Moore, Brown and Hofmeister, Richardson
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Land Use (.5 hour)
Brad Young, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, Austin
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break
Scott Houston, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, Texas Municipal League
3:15 - 3:45 p.m. Municipal Court (.5 hour)
Ryan Turner, General Counsel and Director of Education, Texas Municipal Courts
Education Center
Ryan Henry, Law Offices of Ryan Henry, San Antonio
9:15 - 9:45 a.m. Personnel Law (.5 hour)
Laura Mueller, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Municipal League
9:45 - 10:15 a.m. Election Law (.5 hour)
Bob Heath, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, Austin
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. Open Meetings (.5 hours)
Scott Houston, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, Texas Municipal League
10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. Adjourn
On-site Initial Report Last Modified: 02/24/2014
1. Please provide your name. Text Response Cammie Wymore Leela Fireside Sharon Ortiz Alison Burton Gene Cottle ENRIQUE Juarez Arturo Urteaga David Ritter
Statistic Value Total Responses 8
2. Please indicate any topics you would like to be included at
future seminars. Text Response public private partnerships, construction law N/A code enforcement and animal control
3. Additional comments regarding the seminar: Text Response I'm sorry I had to miss some of the seminar to attend to matters at the office. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. Presenters were entertaining and brought life to subjects that can be difficult to follow. Being a new city manager, I received useful information from each presentation. Well worth my time and effort. You did a very job touching on revelent topics regarding city government.
4. Please provide your city or firm if applicable. Text Response City of Tyler City of Austin Bojorquez Law Firm City of Odessa City of Troup Los Fresnos, Texas Odessa, Texas City of Plano
5. Please provide your job title. Text Response Legal Assistant Assistant City Attorney Client Development Coordinator Senior Assistant City Attorney City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Attorney
6. Please rank the following sessions:
# Question Excellent Good Fair No
Opinion Total
Responses Mean
2
3
7 3 1 0 11 1.45
4 Economic Development (Bill Longley)
6 5 0 0 11 1.45
5
6 3 1 1 11 1.73
6 Ethics (Erin A. Higginbotham)
6 3 2 0 11 1.64
7
8 Purchasing (Jeff Moore)
9 Land Use (Brad Young)
5 4 1 1 11 1.82
10 Annexation (Scott Houston)
11 Municipal Court (Ryan Turner)
8 2 0 1 11 1.45
12 Liability (Ryan Henry)
13 Ordinances (David Johnson)
14 Election Law (Bob Heath)
5 5 0 1 11 1.73
15 Dealing with the Media (John Bender)
5 5 1 0 11 1.64
16 Personnel 8 2 0 1 11 1.45
Law (Laura Mueller)
Sta tisti c
Typ es of
City Go ver nm ent (He ath er Ma huri n)
Op en M ee tin gs (S cot t
Ho ust on )
Pu blic Inf or ma tion Act (Ch rist y
Dra ke- Ad am s)
Eco nom
Ta x
Fir esi de )
Oo m me n)
Pur cha sin g
(Je ff
Mo ore )
L a n d U se (B ra d Y o u n g)
An nex atio n
Mu nic ipa l
Tu rn er)
Li a bil ity (R ya n H e nr y)
Ord ina nce s
(Da vid Joh nso n)
El ec tio n La w (B ob H ea th)
D ea lin g wi th th e M ed ia (J oh n B en de r)
Pe rso nn el La w
(La ura Mu ell er)
Min Val ue
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Ma x Val ue
2 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4
Me an
1.3 6
1. 45
1.4 5
1.4 5
1.7 3
0.5 0
0. 93
0.6 9
0.5 2
1.0 1
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 1
11 11 1 1
11 11 11 11
elements of the meeting:
Opinion Total
Responses Mean
9 2 0 0 11 1.18
2 Reasonableness of Seminar Pricing
9 2 0 0 11 1.18
3 Publicity 6 5 0 0 11 1.45
4 Location of Seminar
6 4 1 0 11 1.55
5 Meeting Facility 6 5 0 0 11 1.45 6 On-site Staff 10 1 0 0 11 1.09
7 Overall Opinion of the Seminar
8 2 0 0 10 1.20
Statistic Relevancy of Session
Overall Opinion of the
Seminar Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Max Value 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 Mean 1.18 1.18 1.45 1.55 1.45 1.09 1.20 Variance 0.16 0.16 0.27 0.47 0.27 0.09 0.18 Standard Deviation
0.40 0.40 0.52 0.69 0.52 0.30 0.42
Total Responses
11 11 11 11 11 11 10
Online Participants Initial Report Last Modified: 02/24/2014
1. Please provide your name. Text Response Risher S. Gilbert Kathleen Henley Jim Wright Daniel Ortiz Elizabeth Ruhmann Alexandra Dietrich Carolee Donna Cox Mark Hoover Chris Borunda Carmen I. Perez Linda Samples
2. Please indicate any topics you would like to be included at
future seminars. Text Response impact fees Police Dept. relations; Code enforcement Best Practices in Advising Police/Law Enforcement None that I can think of Employee discipline
3. Additional comments regarding the livecast: Text Response Sound was inconsistent. Could not hear the questions-they should have a mike or speaker should repeat them. The audio of the livecast was spotty. Sometimes distorted, and volume levels varied. Thank you for making this available via internet livecast for us El Pasoans! Learned a lot, thank you! This was my first time attending this seminar. I found it very informative and useful for my practice.
4. Please provide your city or firm if applicable. Text Response The Gilbert Law Firm-El Paso, Texas McAllen City of Livingston City of El Paso City of El Paso Webster City of Aransas Pass City of Abilene El Paso El Paso El Paso
5. Please provide your job title. Text Response Vice-President Municipal Judge City Attorney Assistant City Attorney Assistant City Attorney Mayor Pro Tem Finance Director Assistant Director for Administrative Services Attorney/Shareholder Attorney Asst. City Attorney
6. Please rank the following sessions:
# Question Excellent Good Fair No
Opinion Total
Responses Mean
2
3
5 6 0 0 11 1.55
4 Economic Development (Bill Longley)
5 5 1 0 11 1.64
5
6 5 0 0 11 1.45
6 Ethics (Erin A. Higginbotham)
4 2 2 2 10 2.20
7
8 Purchasing (Jeff Moore)
9 Land Use (Brad Young)
5 3 1 1 10 1.80
10 Annexation (Scott Houston)
11 Municipal Court (Ryan Turner)
5 3 1 1 10 1.80
12 Liability (Ryan Henry)
13 Ordinances (David Johnson)
14 Election Law (Bob Heath)
5 4 0 0 9 1.44
15 Dealing with the Media (John Bender)
8 2 1 0 11 1.36
16 Personnel 5 4 0 0 9 1.44
Law (Laura Mueller)
Sta tisti c
Typ es of
City Go ver nm ent (He ath er Ma huri n)
Op en M ee tin gs (S cot t
Ho ust on )
Pu blic Inf or ma tion Act (Ch rist y
Dra ke- Ad am s)
Eco nom
Ta x
Fir esi de )
Oo m me n)
Pur cha sin g
(Je ff
Mo ore )
L a n d U se (B ra d Y o u n g)
An nex atio n
Mu nic ipa l
Tu rn er)
Li a bil ity (R ya n H e nr y)
Ord ina nce s
(Da vid Joh nso n)
El ec tio n La w (B ob H ea th)
D ea lin g wi th th e M ed ia (J oh n B en de r)
Pe rso nn el La w
(La ura Mu ell er)
Min Val ue
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Ma x Val ue
4 4 2 3 2 4 2 4 4 3 4 2 2 2 3 2
Me an
1.6 4
1. 78
1.5 5
1.6 4
1.4 5
1.0 3
0. 97
0.5 2
0.6 7
0.5 2
11 9 11 11 11 10 10 11 1 0
11 10 1 0
9 9 11 9
elements of the meeting:
Opinion Total
Responses Mean
10 1 0 0 11 1.09
2 Reasonableness of Seminar Pricing
7 1 0 2 10 1.70
3 Publicity 6 1 0 2 9 1.78 4 Internet Livecast 6 3 1 0 10 1.50
5 Technical Support
Statistic Relevancy of Session
the Livecast
Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 Max Value 2 4 4 3 4 3 Mean 1.09 1.70 1.78 1.50 3.10 1.50 Variance 0.09 1.57 1.69 0.50 1.66 0.50 Standard Deviation
0.30 1.25 1.30 0.71 1.29 0.71
Total Responses
TAB
4
FY 2014 - 2015 INCOME:
TOTAL: $106,050
EXPENSES: Board Meetings 4,000 Semi-Annual Meeting (TML) 11,200 Semi-Annual Meeting (Summer) 95,850 Riley Fletcher Seminar 8,450 Newsletter 14,280 Web site 4,840 Administrative Services 9,290 Miscellaneous 15,075
TOTAL: $162,985
Texas City Attorneys Association Budget Detail
FY 2014 - 2015
Membership Dues: 194 City Attorneys ($60.00) 11,640 183 Assistant City Attorneys ($30.00) 5,490 85 Associate Members ($70.00) 5,950
Total: $23,080 Investment Income:
Sponsor Revenue: $15,900
TOTAL INCOME: $106,050
Board Meetings: 3 Board Meetings ($420 staff time each), plus board shirts and misc 3,000 Out of town Board Meeting staff travel 1,000
Total: $4,000
Semi-Annual Meeting (TML): MCLE 200 Refreshment Breaks 6,000 AV Charges 4,000 Miscellaneous (Including publicity) 1,000
Total: $11,200 Semi-Annual Meeting (Summer):
Conference Gift (e.g. coolers) 3,000 MCLE 200 Refreshment Breaks 40,000 TML Staff Contract 3,990 TML Staff Expenses 2,000 Conference Supplies 1,650 Postage 500 Resort Fee Paid by TCAA 8,000 AV Charges 20,000
INCOME
EXPENSES
Texas City Attorneys Association Budget Detail
FY 2014 - 2015 Galen Sparks/ Susan Rocha Attendees 1,350 Speaker Expenses 1,000 Meeting Room Wifi 10,000 Publicity 1,000 Miscellaneous 3,160
Total: $95,850 Riley Fletcher Seminar:
MCLE 200 Publicity 1,000 Staff Expenses 800 Refreshment Breaks and Luncheon 3,000 AV Charges 1,560 Adminstrative Agreement 1,890
Total: $8,450 Newsletter:
12 issues ($1,190 per issue) $14,280 Website:
Annual Service Agreement 840 New Additions 2,000 Video Replay Posting and Admin Costs 2,000
Total: $4,840 Administrative Services:
Total: $9,290 Misscellaneous:
Printing and Reproduction 300 Awards and Recognition 1,300 Office Supplies 100 Public Relations 300 Professional Fee - Audit 1,000 Telephone 75 LisTCAA Listserv Service Fee 600 Postage 300 IMLA Small City Membership Contributions 3,000 Four IMLA Conference Scholarships 8,000 Miscellaneous 100
Total: $15,075
INCOME
Membership Dues: 194 City Attorneys ($60.00) 11,640 183 Assistant City Attorneys ($30.00) 5,490
85 Associate Members ($70.00) 5,950
Total: $23,080
Semi-Annual Meeting (Summer): 180 Registered at $250.00 45,000
Riley Fletcher Seminar: 75 Registered at $99.00 11,250
Sponsor Revenue: 17,500
TOTAL INCOME: 108
April May June YTD Budget Variance
Membership Dues $290.05 $440.41 $195.39 $24,574.07 $23,080.00 ($1,494.07)
Investment Income 412.80 504.64 425.80 4,788.74 7,000.00 2,211.26
Semi-Annual Meeting (Summer) 21,292.39 12,041.41 7,463.33 48,287.13 45,000.00 (3,287.13)
Sponsor Revenue 3,000.00 800.00 18,800.00 17,500.00 (1,300.00)
Riley Fletcher Seminar 1,937.00 13,350.48 11,250.00 (2,100.48)
CML Revenue 350.00 500.00 (500.00)
Total Revenue 26,932.24 14,136.46 8,084.52 110,300.42 103,830.00 (6,470.42)
Professional Fees 1,000.00 1,000.00
Boards and Committees 105.00 105.00 404.21 6,979.05 3,520.00 (3,459.05)
Travel 306.86 (306.86)
Semi-Annual Meeting (Summer) 1,380.14 1,011.08 31,656.74 38,780.05 25,850.00 (12,930.05)
Riley Fletcher Seminar 319.50 157.50 157.50 6,675.22 8,450.00 1,774.78
Public Relations 362.52 300.00 (62.52)
IMLA Scholarships 7,399.48 8,000.00 600.52
IMLA Small Cities Membership Contributions 3,000.00 3,000.00
Printing and Reproduction 0.32 69.94 300.00 230.06
Newsletter 1,190.00 1,190.00 1,190.00 14,280.00 14,280.00
Awards & Recognition 1,564.19 2,667.57 1,300.00 (1,367.57)
Office Supplies 168.04 100.00 (68.04)
LisTCAA Listserve 50.00 50.00 50.00 600.00 600.00
Web Site Expenses 70.00 70.00 106.34 3,293.24 4,840.00 1,546.76
Miscellaneous 2,834.68 100.00 (2,734.68)
Net Income (Loss) 23,470.41 11,252.92 (27,252.99) 6,843.03 13,325.00 6,481.97
Beginning Net Assets 180,642.51
Ending Net Assets 187,485.54
Rocha; Lavern Gaines Subject: TCAA Nominating Committee - Applications Attached For Your Review Date: Sunday, September 21, 2014 4:25:14 PM Attachments: Combined 2014 TCAA applications.pdf
Map of Board and Applicants 2014.pptx 2014-2015 nominating committee report.doc
Dear Anita, Art and Marcus: On behalf of Mary Kay, please allow me to thank you all for agreeing to serve on the 2014-2015 TCAA Board Nominating Committee. Once again this year, I do not envy your position. We received five applications, and most are top-notch municipal lawyers. There are two positions to be filled this year: one director position, due to the customary succession plan of officers “rising through the ranks,” and the TML board representative position. Tyrone Cooper is currently serving as the TCAA representative to the TML board of directors. The term of the TML board representative was extended several years ago to two years (to coincide with the TML Constitution). Some of you will remember that the change in the TML board term has created a little bit of a problem in the customary “succession” and caused some past presidents to be “skipped over” if you will (the TML board representative is customarily filled by a TCAA past president). We do not “advertise” for the TML board position for that reason, i.e., there are a number of past presidents who still wish to serve in that capacity. It is up to you to decide who is the best past president for the position. A list of the past presidents from the past few years who have not previously served as the TML board representative, and who have expressed an interest, is as follows:
1. Marcus Norris, City Attorney, Amarillo 2. Charlie Zech, Denton, Navarro, Rocha and Bernal, San Antonio 3. Frank Garza, Davidson, Troilo, Ream & Garza, San Antonio 4. Kevin Laughlin, Nichols, Jackson, Dillard, Hager & Smith, Dallas
A list of the applicants for the one vacant director position is as follows in alphabetical order:
1. Slater Elza, Underwood Law Firm, Amarillo 2. Julian Grant, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Corpus Christi 3. Kayla Landeros, Interim City Attorney, Temple 4. Kuruvilla Oommen, Deputy City Attorney, Irving 5. Jennifer Richie, City Attorney, Waco
The proposed 2014-2015 board list is attached in the form of a “Nominating Committee Report.” All you need to do is select one applicant to recommend to fill the vacant director position and one of the past presidents to fill the TML board representative position. The applications of all the candidates are attached in a combined pdf document (exactly how I received them). In addition, a PowerPoint map
Texas City Attorneys Association (TCAA) Board of Directors
- Application Form - The TCAA Constitution provides that the President of the Association shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three persons, who, at the annual meeting of the Association (the fall meeting in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference each year), shall submit nominees for Association officers. By custom, one Director position becomes available and is filled with a new nominee each year, while each current officer succeeds to the next highest office. The Director position is filled by a majority vote of the membership present and voting. By completing and submitting this application, I hereby attest to the following: I am interested in serving on the TCAA Board of Directors (Board) and wish to be so considered. I am an “active member” (defined by the TCAA Constitution as “any person duly licensed to practice law in this state who have been duly elected or appointed to the office of city attorney or assistant city attorney of a city, town, or village which is an active member of the Texas Municipal League”) in good standing with TCAA. I understand that service on the Board requires that I attend several meetings during the course of a year, including: Winter Board meeting (January in Austin or President’s home town) Summer Conference (June in Bastrop for 2015 and 2016) Fall Conference (fall at different locations throughout the state). I understand that Board service typically lasts for several years (typically 8-10 years) as current Board members are customarily re-nominated for service in successively higher positions that often culminate with service as President. I understand that service on the Board is voluntary, and that I am responsible for my own expenses. Name: Julian Grant Position: Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Corpus Christi Address: PO Box 9277, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9277 Phone: 361-826-3860 Email: [email protected] • Please attach a brief description of your municipal law experience. • Please attach a brief description of your reasons for wishing to serve on the Board. Please email this form and attachments to Scott Houston, TCAA General Counsel, at [email protected]. Note: the TCAA Constitution also provides that additional nominations may be made from the floor.
- Application Form - The TCAA Constitution provides that the President of the Association shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three persons, who, at the annual meeting of the Association (the fall meeting in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference each year), shall submit nominees for Association officers. By custom, one Director position becomes available and is filled with a new nominee each year, while each current officer succeeds to the next highest office. The Director position is filled by a majority vote of the membership present and voting. By completing and submitting this application, I hereby attest to the following: • I am interested in serving on the TCAA Board of Directors (Board) and wish to be so considered. • I am an “active member” (defined by the TCAA Constitution as “any person duly licensed to practice
law in this state who have been duly elected or appointed to the office of city attorney or assistant city attorney of a city, town, or village which is an active member of the Texas Municipal League”) in good standing with TCAA.
• I understand that service on the Board requires that I attend several meetings during the course of a
year, including:
1. Winter Board meeting (January in Austin or President’s home town) 2. Summer Conference (June in Bastrop for 2015 and 2016) 3. Fall Conference (fall at different locations throughout the state).
• I understand that Board service typically lasts for several years (typically 8-10 years) as current Board
members are customarily re-nominated for service in successively higher positions that often culminate with service as President.
• I understand that service on the Board is voluntary, and that I am responsible for my own expenses. Name: Kayla Landeros Position: Interim City Attorney – City of Temple Address: City of Temple, Legal Department, 2 N. Main St., Suite 308, Temple, Texas 76501 Phone: 254-298-5672 Email: [email protected] • Please attach a brief description of your municipal law experience.
I have been with the City of Temple since May, 2012. I am currently serving as Interim City Attorney. My duties include, reviewing and drafting contracts for the City. I handle real estate transactions, including buying and selling property. I assist with economic development, including drafting Chapter 380 agreements and tax abatement agreements. I also work closely with the public works and parks departments on multiple issues ranging from obtaining easements to enforcement of city and state regulations.
• Please attach a brief description of your reasons for wishing to serve on the Board.
Since joining the City of Temple and becoming a member of TCAA, I have been impressed with all of the great resources that TCAA provides for its members. I attended my first Summer Conference in South Padre in June, 2013 and was blown away by the program and speakers that TCAA put together. I would love the opportunity to learn from other Board members and help in the continued effort to keep TCAA members informed and up to date on different areas of municipal law.
Please email this form and attachments to Scott Houston, TCAA General Counsel, at [email protected]. Note: the TCAA Constitution also provides that additional nominations may be made from the floor.
- Application Form - The TCAA Constitution provides that the President of the Association shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three persons, who, at the annual meeting of the Association (the fall meeting in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference each year), shall submit nominees for Association officers. By custom, one Director position becomes available and is filled with a new nominee each year, while each current officer succeeds to the next highest office. The Director position is filled by a majority vote of the membership present and voting. By completing and submitting this application, I hereby attest to the following: • I am interested in serving on the TCAA Board of Directors (Board) and wish to be so considered. • I am an “active member” (defined by the TCAA Constitution as “any person duly licensed to practice
law in this state who have been duly elected or appointed to the office of city attorney or assistant city attorney of a city, town, or village which is an active member of the Texas Municipal League”) in good standing with TCAA.
• I understand that service on the Board requires that I attend several meetings during the course of a
year, including:
1. Winter Board meeting (January in Austin or President’s home town) 2. Summer Conference (June in Bastrop for 2015 and 2016) 3. Fall Conference (fall at different locations throughout the state).
• I understand that Board service typically lasts for several years (typically 8-10 years) as current Board
members are customarily re-nominated for service in successively higher positions that often culminate with service as President.
• I understand that service on the Board is voluntary, and that I am responsible for my own expenses. Name: ___Kuruvilla Oommen ____________________________________________________ Position: ___Deputy City Attorney, City of Irving________________________________________ Address: __825 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, Texas 75060___________________________________ Phone: ___972-721-4825_________________________________________________________ Email: [email protected]_______________________________________________ • Please attach a brief description of your municipal law experience. • Please attach a brief description of your reasons for wishing to serve on the Board. Please email this form and attachments to Scott Houston, TCAA General Counsel, at [email protected]. Note: the TCAA Constitution also provides that additional nominations may be made from the floor.
Charles R. Anderson City Attorney, Irving, Texas
Slater Elza
Paige Mims
Kuruvilla Oomen
Kathy Davis
Kayla Landeros
Karen Kennard
Alan Bojorquez
Frank Garza
Sylvia Firth
Dottie Palumbo
Karen Horner
Ron Stutes
representative appointees.
Jennifer Richie
Julian Grant
Tyrone Cooper
October 2, 2014
Committee Members: (1) Anita Burgess, City Attorney, Denton; (2) Art Pertile, Olson & Olson, Houston; and (3) Marcus Norris, City Attorney, Amarillo.
President
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Recorder
Directors
Paige Mims, Deputy City Attorney, Plano
Alan Bojorquez, The Bojorquez Law Firm, Austin
Ron Stutes, Potter Minton, Tyler
To be filled: ______________________________
TML Board Representative
To be filled: ______________________________
showing the locations of each board member and applicant is attached. The vote on the appointments will take place at the business meeting RIGHT AFTER LUNCH at our fall CLE conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on October 2, 2014, at approximately 2 p.m. Please designate one member of the committee to present the committee's report at that time. Customarily, the committee meets or visits at some point prior to, or during, the annual conference to decide on its recommendations. One member will then read the slate of nominees (the "Nominating Committee Report") and the president will call for a vote of the membership on the report. Please confirm that you have received this e-mail and let me know if you have any questions at any time. My cell is 512-791-4158. Thanks again so much for serving! Scott Houston Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Texas Municipal League 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400 Austin, Texas 78754 512-231-7400 www.tml.org [email protected] Please be advised that the information in this e-mail is provided for informational purposes only. Neither this communication, nor any other communication with the Texas Municipal League (TML), creates an attorney-client relationship between the TML legal department or its attorneys and you or your city or any third party. Once received by a city official, this communication may be subject to public release. Every city official and employee should consult with local legal counsel to ensure that any information or documents comply with current law and the particular facts of each situation.
TCAA Current Board Members and Director Applicants
Sylvia Firth
Dottie Palumbo
Karen Horner
Ron Stutes
representative appointees.
Jennifer Richie
Julian Grant
Tyrone Cooper
TCAA Nominating Committee Report October 2, 2014
Committee Members: (1) Anita Burgess, City Attorney, Denton; (2) Art Pertile, Olson &
Olson, Houston; and (3) Marcus Norris, City Attorney, Amarillo.
President
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Recorder
Sylvia Firth, Assistant City Attorney, El Paso
Paige Mims, Deputy City Attorney, Plano
Alan Bojorquez, The Bojorquez Law Firm, Austin Ron Stutes, Potter Minton, Tyler
To be filled: ______________________________
TML Board Representative
To be filled: ______________________________
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, Bastrop
TCAA has signed a contract with the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa for the
following dates:
June 17 – 19, 2015
June 15 – 17, 2016
The 2015 and 2016 TCAA Summer Conferences will be the best TCAA has ever put
on. Staff will do everything in our power to make it so. Three things will affect the
outcome of the move to the Hyatt Lost Pines: (1) unpredictability of attendance and
length of attendee stay; (2) sponsor receptions; and (3) the board’s inevitable
“sticker shock” reaction to prices at a first-class property.
To alleviate the stress involved with the three items above, we will: (1) promote the
conference early and open reservations very early for sponsors and attendees – we
will open reservations in the fall (2014) for the 2015 conference; (2) Scott will visit
in person with the three reception sponsors (Bickerstaff – Brad Young, McKamie
Krueger – Mick McKamie, Denton Navarro – Lowell Denton) to see what they will
be willing to do – this effort may require some assistance from board members at
some point; and (3) explain to the board in detail how we will run a deficit budget
for two years and then be balanced with a healthy reserve remaining. The following
is the transition plan in Q&A format. (Note that, with so many variables, changes
to the plan may be needed. If that occurs, staff will notify the board.)
Why did staff choose to conduct both 2015 and 2016 at the Hyatt Lost
Pines?
The choice was made based on the motion approved at the last board meeting:
A motion was made by Kathy and seconded by Ron that, for the 2015 and
2016 conferences, staff move forward with going to the Hyatt Hill Country
one year and the Hyatt Lost Pines the other, but if one provides TCAA a
significant cost savings then the conference should be at that location for both
2015 and 2016. The motion was unanimously approved. (Note: Dottie and
Karen Horner were no longer present by conference call.)
There were a number of cost-saving reasons, but the key factor was the room rate.
The rates originally provided by the Hyatt Hill Country in response to our proposal
were $199 and $209. However, upon closer inspection, those rates were available
only for a Sunday – Wednesday pattern. The board was clear that moving the
pattern wasn’t acceptable. The best rates the Hyatt Hill Country would do for our
pattern were $239 and $244. That number is substantially more than the $195
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offered by the Hyatt Lost Pines for BOTH years, and is psychologically too
expensive for city attorneys.
What is in our Hyatt Lost Pines Contract and what to expect financially:
The following are the highlights:
Room rate of $195 for both years.
Resort fee lowered from $25 per night to $15 per night. TCAA will pay the
resort fee on behalf of all attendees, and the fee will not appear on attendee
bills. This could cost TCAA as much as $3,750.
Food and Beverage minimum in the contract was lowered to $10,000.
However, that number will be far outspent. First class hotels are expensive,
period. We expect two breakfasts and three breaks to cost around $40,000.
Compare that to the Isla Grand, which charged around $10,000. That’s an
increase of $30,000 for food and beverage costs alone, not including
receptions. We will work with the hotel to try and provide quality breaks for
less money, but that’s what I’m budgeting.
Audio/visual charges will be substantially more as well. A/V costs at the Isla
Grand were around $3,000. We expect A/V charges to increase to around
$20,000. A large portion of those charges should include Wi-Fi in the meeting
room – the lack of functioning Wi-Fi was a chief complaint in Padre. (Almost
every hotel now charges a fee to provide that service.)
What do the cost increases mean for the 2014-2015 budget (which includes
the 2015 conference)?
The increased expenditures will cause the 2014-2015 budget, which the board will
review and adopt in June, to run a deficit of as much as $50,000. That is large, but
consider the huge surplus TCAA has accrued over the last 10 years: In 2002, TCAA
had net assets of $10,785. In 2013, TCAA had net assets of $175,879.
What do the cost increases mean for the 2015-2016 budget (which includes
the 2016 conference), and how will the budget ultimately be balanced?
With sponsor revenue increase ($1,000 to $2,000 for “basic” sponsors, $16,000
additional projected revenue for 2015-2016) and registration fee increase ($250 to
$299 in 2014-2015 budget, $8,820 additional projected revenue for 2015-2016), that
deficit will be closer to $25,000 for the 2015-2016 budget. A $15 membership dues
increase in 2015 ($6,750 increased revenue), a final registration fee increase to $349
for 2016 ($9,000 increased revenue), along with tweaks on the expense side, should
bring us to at least a balanced budget by the 2016-2017 budget year. At that time,
the reserve will have gone from around $180,000 down to around $130,000, which is
Page 3 of 5
still a healthy reserve that would cover one year of operating expenses with zero
income.
Are the increases to cover the new expenses too much for the
membership?
No. In 2002, TCAA had net assets of $10,785. In 2013, TCAA had net assets of
$175,879. That $165,094 increase in reserves came about through three main
reasons: (1) a small dues increase 10 years ago; (2) better conference expenses
management; and (3) the implementation in 2005 of a sponsorship program.
In 2007, the board had questions about the large amount of reserve funds held by
TCAA. Staff prepared a legal memo explaining that the mere presence of large cash
reserves does not affect nonprofit status or cause other legal issues. Around that
time, some suggestions were made about the propriety of having the large reserve,
but no significant programs were implemented. A few one-time, larger
expenditures have been made, including $10,000 in 2007 to fund a portion of a
sexually oriented business survey and $25,000 to sponsor the 2012 IMLA Austin
Conference. Drawing down on reserves to perform TCAA’s core function –
education – makes perfect sense.
Dues were last increased 10 years ago in 2004. Current membership dues for TCAA
members are as follows:
Active members who are assistant city attorneys: $30.00
Associate members: $70.00
The TCAA Constitution provides, in Article VI, Section 1 (Dues), that:
The dues of each active member and of each associate member of the
association shall be payable annually in advance, and may be changed
upon recommendation of the executive committee and approved by a
majority vote of the members present at any annual or semi-annual
meeting.
TCAA membership voted to approve a flat dues increase of $10.00 for each class of
membership at the Business Meeting at the Semi-Annual Conference in South
Padre on June 10, 2004. In support of the recommendation, the TCAA Board of
Directors showed the following:
The last dues increase was 10 years previous in 1994. That dues increase
was the first in 13 years and raised dues from $20.00 for all members to
Page 4 of 5
(associate members).
Due to increased operating costs over the past 10 years and the addition of
TCAA programs, including a website, the dues increase was necessary to
adequately fund the activities of the association.
Membership dues for associate members are only $5.83 per month after the
proposed increase.
Membership dues for active members who are city attorneys are only $5.00
per month after the proposed increase.
Membership dues for active members who are assistant city attorneys are
$2.50 per month after the proposed increase.
What is the timeline for implementation of the transition plan?
March 2014 Inform sponsors of new 2015-2016 location in their renewal emails.
Sponsorship prices remain the same for 2014 ($1,000), but will increase by
$1,000 (to $2,000) for 2015, projected to increase revenue by $16,000 annually
beginning in 2015.
Spring 2014 Include basic information about future move in South Padre “Catch the Last
Wave” publicity.
Adopt deficit budget for 2014-2015 to include 2015 lost pines.
Cancel Isla Grand contract (no penalty).
Hand out “Catch the Last Wave” Tshirts to attendees, free of charge (one-
time $4,000 unbudgeted expenditure).
At the conference, start rolling out the 2015 conference through printed
publicity and video to be shown at conference. Continue on Friday.
Scott visits with current reception sponsors to attempt to work out receptions
at Lost Pines in 2015 and 2016.
November 2014
Begin pushing publicity to members for 2015 summer conference.
Open reservations for sponsors. (Note: Reservations can be made by phone
or through a dedicated TCAA summer conference URL on the Hyatt website.)
At board meeting, begin planning speakers for 2015 conference.
Open reservations for attendees. (Note: Reservations can be made by phone
or through a dedicated TCAA summer conference URL on the Hyatt website.)
January 2015
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Finalize 2015 conference agenda.
February 2015 Per contract, staff will meet with Lost Pines to adjust room block based on
current pickup.
Do not conduct Riley Fletcher Seminar for 2015. (Provide the 2014 video
online for a fee.) Focus attention on 2015 summer conference.
June 2015 (Conference is June 17-19) Increase 2016 summer conference registration fee to $349 in 2015-2016
budget. Conference will include 2 more CLE hours to reflect value. (This will
allow an attorney to get ALL required participatory CLE at the summer
conference, and complete the remainder by self-study.)
September 2015 Per contract, staff will meet with Lost Pines to adjust 2016 room block based
on pickup from 2015.
October 2015 Present to membership a dues increase of $15 per membership class,
projected to increase annual revenue by around $4,500. (This increase will be
implemented in renewals that go out in early 2016.)
Board will direct staff on 2017 and on conference locations.
January 2016 Increased membership renewal invoices will go out to members.
June 2016 (Conference is June 15-17) Adopt 2016-2017 budget.
Rock on.
Summary
Detail

Documents

Texas City Attorneys Association