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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04 - City Lobbyist ITEM # Z/ MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER 6� MEETING DATE: JUNE 1, 2010 SUBJECT: CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF CITY LOBBYIST AND NAMING FRED HILL AS LOBBYIST RECOMMENDATION: The City council consider and ordinance ratifying the creation of the office of City Lobbyist and ratifying the appointing Fred Hill in that role. BACKGROUND: The City Council met on March 2, 2010 and approved an agreement with Fred Hill, The intent of the Council at that time was that Fred Hill serve as a City Officer and be appointed as such. The duties of City Lobbyist include: • Assisting the City in developing political and legislative strategies to achieve the City's goals of better serving its citizens • Assisting in communicating the position of the City to the legislative and executive branches of Texas Government • Explaining to Texas elected Representatives and Senators that certain legislative initiatives could have unintended consequences and be harmful to cities and their citizens • Representing the City during meetings, hearings and negotiating sessions involving the executive or legislative branches of Texas government regarding issues of importance to the City • Assisting the City in working with elected officials and members and staff persons of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate in passing or amending legislation favorable to the City or in defeating legislation deemed harmful to the goals of the City, and monitoring and representing the City during interim legislative studies or interim committee meetings, and providing routine status reports to the City regarding these duties. Staff recommends approval. May 27, 2010(9:37AM) ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS AFFIRMING THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF CITY LOBBYIST; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine, Texas (the "City") is a home-rule municipality; and WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized by Section 26.041 of the Texas Local Government Code to create municipal offices; and WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized by Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate the appointment, employment, and duties of the City officers; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems the duties and responsibilities of the City Lobbyist as fitting of being designated a City officer; and WHEREAS, there is no prohibition in the City Charter against the creation of additional City officers, as authorized by Section 26.041 of the Texas Local Government Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council met to deliberate the appointment, employment, and duties of the City Lobbyist on March 2, 2010, including a meeting in Executive Session; with the intention of creating the Office of City Lobbyist; and WHEREAS, the City Council's meeting on March 2, 2010, was held in full compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act; and WHEREAS, the duties of City Lobbyist include assisting the City in developing political and legislative strategies to achieve the City's goals of better serving its citizens, assisting in communicating the position of the City to the legislative and executive branches of Texas Government, explaining to Texas elected Representatives and Senators that certain legislative initiatives could have unintended consequences and be harmful to cities and their citizens, representing the City during meetings,. hearings and negotiating sessions involving the executive or legislative branches of Texas government regarding issues of importance to the City, assisting the City in working with elected officials and members and staff persons of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate in passing or amending legislation favorable to the City or in defeating legislation deemed harmful to the goals of the City, and monitoring and representing the City during interim legislative studies or interim committee meetings, and providing routine status reports to the City regarding these duties; and WHEREAS, the term of office for the City Lobbyist is two (2) years; and WHEREAS, the City Lobbyist is selected by the City Council or the City Manager; and WHEREAS, the City Council named Fred Hill as the City Lobbyist on March 2, 2010; and WHEREAS, Fred Hill operates under the corporate name of Solutions for Local Control, LLC, but that Fred Hill is the sole principal and owner of Solutions for Local Control, LLC; and WHEREAS, all statutory and constitutional requirements for the adoption of this ordinance have been met, including, but not limited to the Texas Open Meetings Act, and WHEREAS, the City Council deems the adoption of this ordinance to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. Section 2. That the City Council affirms the creation of the office of City Lobbyist, as originally designated and appointed on March 2, 2010. The creation of the office of City Lobbyist, and the appointment of Fred Hill to said office is hereby ratified, verified, and affirmed, effective March 2, 2010. Section 3. If any section, paragraph or provision of this ordinance or the application thereto any person or situation is held invalid or unconstitutional by a Court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the City Council hereby declares it would have passed such remaining portions of the ordinance despite such invalidity, which remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. Section 4. The fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of Grapevine, Texas are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace and general welfare of the public creates an emergency which requires that this ordinance become effective from and after the date of its passage, and it is accordingly so ordained. ORD. NO. 2 PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 1st day of June, 2010. APPROVED- ATTEST- APPROVED AS TO FORM- ORD. NO. 3