Term Limit Minutes2

8/14/2019 Term Limit Minutes2

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/term-limit-minutes2 1/5

Minutes from the meeting of THE CITY OF HOUSTON TERM LIMITS REVIEW COMMISSION

Wednesday, February 10th , 7:00pmCity Council Chambers

Houston, Texas

Present:

Ambassador Arthur Schechter, Chairman

James BowieSylvia K. BrooksChristina CabralEdward CumminsTheodore Deaver Anan GaddumiEster KingThomas JonesToni LawrenceKathryn Chace McNeilDiana Davila MartinezBob Stein

Frumencio ReyesCarroll RobinsonJane Cahill WestClaudia Williamson (Vice Chairperson)Ed Wulfe

Absent:William JordanDorothy Miller John Nau

Quorum present: Yes

Others Present:Susan Taylor, Deputy City Attorney

1



Presentations by invited speakers and general public:

• Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair, Ambassador Arthur Schechter

• Minutes from previous meeting were approved.

Speakers:

Jonathan Day – Mr. Day gave a summary of his comments. (SeeJonathan Day document) Various Commissioners asked follow-up questions.

Clymer Wright – Mr. Wright gave a brief history of how term limitscame to exist in Houston City government. Mr. Wright’s opinionis that since term limits were created, the quality of theindividuals who have been elected to City Council has improved.Mr. Wright answered questions from various commissioners.

Chris Bell – Mr. Bell read portions of a news article recentlypublished. (Link to article…….) He offered the thought that

elected officials who only have 6 years can not take on biginitiatives due to their short time in office. Mr. Bell recommendswe look at two 4 year terms. Mr. Bell answered questions fromvarious commissioners.

Robert S. (Bob) Lemer – Mr. Lemer summarized points11-14listed on his previously submitted statement. (See Lemer attachment) Mr. Lemer answered questions from variouscommissioners.

Carol Alvarado – Ms. Alvarado read from a letter she had writtenresponding to term limits. (See Alvarado document) She sharedher personal experience as a term limited Council member andparticularly, the anxiety of trying to accomplish specific goalsbefore the end of her tenure at City Hall. Ms. Alvarado explainedthat she was lucky that as a new councilmember, her learning

2



curve was not as challenging as she had been working at CityHall. This is not always the case for new members of Council.The time needed to learn their job and build the coalitions turnsout to be costly for our city leaders as term limits restricts their ability to accomplish goals for their constituents. Ms. Alvaradomentioned the cities of San Antonio and New York who haverecently changed their term limits. She also referenced a StateBill she co-authored with Representative Garnet Coleman relatedto term limits the past legislative session. She also mentionedher thoughts against blacking out candidates from coming backto run for city government.

Marc Campos – Mr. Campos stated that he was against termlimits although he voted for it. He felt that individuals changed

once they were elected so he thought term limits may changethis. He complimented Mr. Clymer’s term limit campaign. Mr.Campos cautioned that with everything going on in the countryand with voters, he wonders what voters will think on this topic.He recommended the Commission be careful how they deal withthis issue.

Coach Hardin –Mr. Hardin asks the commissioners to consider their ramifications of long tenure by individuals serving inngoverning body. Coach Hardrin answered questions by theCommissioners.

Kathryn Flowers - Ms. Flowers moved to Houston a few yearsago from Louisiana. She wanted to offer her suggestion as shehas experience having worked with government officials inLouisiana. It takes time to for elected officials and the public toget to know one another. It is her recommendation theCommission suggest 4 year terms. She also mentioned that noblack outs existed for elected official to come back to run for

office. Ms. Flowers answered questions from the variouscommissioners.

Rick Rodriguez -Mr. Rodriguez spoke about term limits as itrelates to our leaders able to accomplish goals. Drawing fromearlier discussions, Mr. Rodriguez used the appointment of the

3



public safety chiefs as an example of term limits limiting leaders’ability to complete their goals as they also have limited time.

Governing can not accomplish change with such short terms.

Tony Morris– Mr. Morris has watched several mayoraladministrations but focused on Mayor Bill White. Mr. Morris feelsthat the Mayor appeared frustrated as he knew what he wanted toaccomplish but also knew that he had to keep the plan within sixyears. Mayor White made sure he did not abuse it and also tried toleave things prepared for the new mayor to be able to accomplishtheir goals.

DISCUSSION:• At the conclusion of speakers, Ambassador Schechter and

the commissioners reviewed several of the points discussed.The Commissioners also discussed the details of havinganother meeting.

• It was agreed that it would be February 27th at a city facilityoutside of downtown. Mr. King inquired how we would get theword out to citizens. Some suggestions were advertising itthrough an op ed piece, inviting the heads of both politicalparties to speak, using citizens net, civic clubs, super neighborhoods and asking the Council members to send out anotice.

• Bob Stein would take all of the options discussed as it relatedto the research and put in a written format to be distributedamong the Commissioners.

• Susan Taylor would follow-up on location of next meeting.

• Meeting was adjourned at 10:00pm.

Minutes submitted by Christina Cabral, Commission Secretary

NOTE: These minutes are bullet point summaries of whattranspired at the February 10 Term Limit meeting. A completeversion of the meeting can be seen on the Municipal Channel atwww.htv.net

4

http://www.htv.net/

http://www.htv.net/



5

Documents

Term Limit Minutes2