Travis County Commssioners Court
October 22, 2002
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Item 4
Back to the agenda, next is item number 4. Consider options for Travis County to appoint board members to a regional mobility authority a take appropriate action. [audio difficulties].
>> close the doors, guys.
>> commissioner Sonleitner and I volunteered to do -- give it some attention. I have handed out to you what is really just a draft of sort of a job description what we're looking for, the kind of folks we're looking for to apply for these board positions. And we have also talked about a potential time line and application process.
>> [inaudible].
>> the process they were going to -- let me hand this to the clerk. I didn't have copies of the process. We'll probably talk about it today. That we've been looking at the calendar and trying to -- been talking to representative krusee and senator barrientos. They believe having a board in place by the time the session begins is a critical support for them in addressing the legislative issues. So if you work back from that, it seems to us that we would need to adopt a process by next week. Whereby we advertise the need for applicants in conformty with the kind of folks we need to serve in these positions. And then that advertising would consisted of, we thought, sending a letter to organizations like the league of women voters, the --.
>> all of the chambers.
>> all of the chambers. Possibly even the citys just to get the broadest net out there that we can. But we would not actually begin accepting applications until we enter into the minute order. So we would really begin to get the word out before we actually open the application in order to condense the time as much as possible. If the commission acts on October 31st, we -- you know, the very earliest we could [inaudible] that order would be November 5th. That's not very likely. We're looking at the 12th probably, the very earliest. If you leave the application time period open for two weeks, now you are moving towards the end of November. We would anticipate that -- that a subcommittee of the commissioners court would have could be appointed -- well, first we thoht the applications would come to, like, our executive manager, joe geiselman, for an initial screening to make sure they get us to the ones that have --.
>> a certain level of --.
>> and then we would expect that we would need to narrow that down to an interview process. That would take a week or so. And so -- yeah, the bottom line is that if we're going to make it by January, we're going to have to get this thing advertised and a process adopted pretty quickly.
>> I'm sorry, go ahead, Margaret.
>> the applicants, are these elected officials?
>> no. They cannot be.
>> they cannot be.
>> they are citizens, volunteers. These are unpaid positions, expenses reimbursed, if you recall.
>> [inaudible] subcommittee officially, a member of ra r.m.a. Subcommittee, I want to make sure whoever comes forth, I would like to talk to them, decide to look at stuff and -- I definitely want [inaudible] because there's a lot of concerns that we need to judge with this r.m.a. Process. And I know they have their timetable, but I want to make sure that it's the done in the process and the proper manner that I feel comfortable with, not personally. So wherever we end up in this, because I still look at this and there's still some things that I feel sure need to be addressed.
>> [inaudible].
>> I know, but this morning --.
>> rewrote it this morning.
>> anyway, I'm just -- there's a lot of things that I need to even go back and revisit this here. [inaudible] gone through it thoroughly yet. But I do know this. That I'm going to like to speak to each one of those persons individually and see whether or not if they can [inaudible] and address a lot of the concerns that have been brought up. And tom, let me ask you this legal question -- it's the not legal, I think it's just a matter of the way the rules and things have been established in the r.m.a.s. And that is that the commissioners court, which is ruled by [inaudible] decide to do remove a person from the board, from the r.m.a. Board, is that at the discretion of the commissioners court? They can do that?
>> yeah, under this particular statute, these board members, these appointees, would serve at will. In other words, you could remove them for any reason.
>> okay.
>> we need to investigate whatever financial disclosure they might file under state law. And also, I thought it would be nice to take a look at, for instance, the governor's application and have it adapted to our needs and tom agreed to help with that. We need to work up a packet that shows the legal -- the conflicts that are in a statute so that any applicant would make sure -- they would have to assure us they do not run afoul on the conflict provisions.
>> also in the process what we had laid out as a draft, judge, is to basically make it clear to short list down to certain names and that it would be the intent, if this is adopted, that all five members of this commissioners court would be able to visit with the final candidates and then to be able to -- we're not bringing people in from out of town, so I think that was the other thing. If we wanted to get the word out to people that if we are acting in this window of opportunity, that folks are going to need to be available at a time when, you know, folks are thinking about u.t. And a&m football games. Representative krusee has made it clear, technical changes, if the board is seated, he will have a better shot of declaring this emergency legislation and it will go into effect immediately as opposed to one of the other kind of posting requirements. I will also say we've been in discussion draft-wise with Williamson county as well because they had a great desire that if we felt comfortable this was a public process that passed these very high standards of openness, accountability and public involvement in Travis County, it would do just fine in Williamson county as well. So they were looking to see what we were do, and we're talking if it's something that works for them, they want just adopt the same thing and substitute in Williamson for travis at the appropriate places.
>> can you have a written draft ready for distribution, say, by Friday?
>> oh, gosh, we can probably --.
>> action next Tuesday.
>> probably Tuesday or Wednesday.
>> I just wanted to get with carol -- someone in the [inaudible] shop to get this into one place, to get it distributed.
>> it's in three different computers at this point.
>> yeah.
>> next Tuesday we would approve the different steps in the process?
>> yes, sir.
>> so that would culminate in the appointment of --.
>> really just get people thinking because there probably are things we haven't included in this list that we wanted in here, but we just needed to get this done.
>> tom, I was trying to ask a couple of other questions. I would like to finish, if I can. The number of persons that can be appointed on this r.m.a. Board right now as it stands by law, is seven; is that correct?
>> well, in the petition that Travis County and Williamson county submitted to txdot, it said up to seven members. One question txdot has for us is do you mean exactly seven or five or what. As you know, i've circulated a draft letter responding to that. I think obviously ultimately it's you all's decision, but I think the thinking at staff level is go with exactly seven.
>> three by the county -- both counties and one by the governor. Is that correct? One from Travis County and Williamson county and one by the governor.
>> right. So you all would be making three appointments. If you all choose to go with seven.
>> well, I guess there are some other things, but I'm not going to go into them right now. But there's a lot of concerns that we really need to -- we need to highlight here. Again, whomever applies for this, it is a position that is voluntary and I want to make sure that I have a chance to talk to those individuals, whomever they may be when they come forward. Again, I would like to make sure that anything related to the r.m.a. As we go through this process, staff, if you hear of anything, tom, joe geiselman, carl joseph, anybody else out there related to the r.m.a., Please let me know, let me office know if you can't get in touch with me. I'm saying that publicly because they things have been going on that I have not been notified on a lot of this stuff. I'm saying that publicly because I think it needs to be directed to where I'm in the know on certain things. Thanks.
>> certainly this is a work in progress, judge. Commissioner Moore and I did [inaudible] creating music in terms of just throwing words out. So this is very much a work in progress and so if there are specific comments, we have the process piece of this if not tomorrow certainly no later than Thursday. But just those qualities that we're looking for, please, give us input. This was something that commissioner Moore and I volunteered to do on behalf of the court, and so this is our class assignment and we look forward to you all grading our work. And adding to it. Making it a better document.
>> so qualifications, public input process, any idea the actual solicitation of applications.
>> yes. We also thought about when we send out a letter of solicitation, you know, what groups in particular do we want to make sure that we reach. Where will we do any kind of advertising. You know, obviously the statesman makes total sense. What other ones do we want to try and pick up on that make sense. But what we put on the website. It's the really how do we spread the word about this very unique opportunity -- well, unique opportunity.
>> [inaudible] process.
>> it's in there. [multiple voices]
>> election process.
>> we were reviewing the contract with mike weaver and Williamson county, that Williamson county is having with mike weaver, and as I reviewed some of it, there is specific reference to some of these things that we're doing. And I know, Margaret, you said a minute ago that you will send all this stuff to me. Is he going to do this or is t.n.r. And the county going to do this? In terms of advertising, in terms of costs, in terms of the job description for the applicants.
>> I don't recall. Tom, you have been working on this -- the specifics.
>> can we decide that next week also?
>> sure.
>> there needs to be a timetable for all of these different steps.
>> exactly.
>> as well as who will do.
>> it was never any intent we would do work and have to pay for someone else to be doing our work. But I think we just need to get clarity as to if we have made this work product, then this is something that -- is something that Travis County would pay for. The question about the advertising is totally separate because that has not occurred yet.
>> is this the -- is this the item we discussed as far as [inaudible] and all that kind of stuff?
>> that was part of it.
>> see, i'll trust carol's characterization of what's in that scope of work because t.n.r. Drafted it.
>> I thought it was a [inaudible] after we made a decision and we discussed it from the court was that to go -- after we fine-tuned it.
>> we haven't fine-tuned it.
>> we haven't fine-tuned enough to go to Williamson county.
>> and we haven't posted it.
>> for Travis County to appoint board members to the regional mobility authority. If we take those steps and a timetable and a who will do it on all of them. Have that distributed in draft form by Friday, between Friday and Tuesday, each of us can take a position and [inaudible] different ideas, we can discuss those and act on them. And do we need to post the endorsing?
>> that will be ready to come back to you all next Tuesday.
>> a separate posting.
>> and I know that -- [multiple voices]
>> because I have not had an opportunity at all to [inaudible] any of this.
>> commissioner, I e-mailed you the latest greatest draft of that yesterday afternoon.
>> yesterday afternoon? Okay. Well, that's new to me because it just appeared that things that I'm on the subcommittee as far as the r.m.a., It appears I'm being excluded out of the process, and that is not the way it should be. Now, either I'm a subcommittee member of the r.m.a. Or I'm not, period.
>> I haven't met with tom in a month.
>> I was trying to get another meeting with him, judge. But the thing of it is, after some things that are happening here and it's really not appropriate. [inaudible] I know that we gave certain directions out last week, and they weren't -- [inaudible]. And that's just bothering me.
>> [inaudible].
>> that's right. That's week we specifically volunteered for a task which we have brought back this week.
>> [inaudible].
>> we're not posted for that so let me leave it alone. That's my concern. We're going to have to follow some steps here.
>> there is a conference Wednesday and Thursday in san antonio that I believe every member of the court has been made aware of, and there will be a lot of other transit folks at this conference, members of other toll authorities. I think it might be appropriate for us to take our little draft down there for them to take a look at it as well and see if there is anything that they might suggest. Some of the board members having gone through a similar process, we might get some interesting feedback from them as well as are we on target here and is this -- have you got any good suggestions as well related to [inaudible].
>> that's next week?
>> Wednesday and Thursday.
>> as in tomorrow night and all day Thursday in san antonio. And I believe every member of the court has been made aware of that.
>> whatever good advice is available, I think we ought to take advantage of it.
>> right.
>> anything further on item number 4 as posted?
>> thanks, judge.
>> we'll have this back on next week.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 2, 2003 10:25 AM