Travis County Commissioners Court
November 18, 2008
Executive Session
So are we ready for executive session?
>> yeah, are we through with -- we didn't do health and human services, but I kind of told them --
>> so the rest of the stuff is health and human services.
>> 35.
>> and 35.
>> but we haven't gotten the word back from danny yet.
>> yeah, 35, when I looked at that, I tried to get a response. Danny is the one to make the call. And I'm pretty sure if we can reach him, I think he will want to do what I have in mind, but --
>> executive session.
>> yeah, why don't we call a couple of them up. Do we know whether joe is out there? Or would your people be better?
>> I think they are here.
>> there have been a couple of them waiting around.
>> for 38.
>> 38, consider and take appropriate action on purchase contract with park properties 1, pasme properties 2 for acquisition of land in connection with the balcones conservation plan. That's under the real property exception to the open meetings act.
>> go ahead and make that attorney as well.
>> okay. And we'll make it the attorney -- consultation with attorney exception. 39, receive briefing from county attorney and take appropriate action concerning the extension of administrative leave with pay for juvenile probation employee slot number 429. 40, receive briefing and take appropriate action concerning the extension of administrative leave with pay for juvenile probation slot number 436. Consultation with attorney and personnel exceptions to the open meetings act. Hold 41 until next week. That may take a while, I think. I can do 42 or do we feel better taking 45 this morning? Does it matter?
>> it doesn't matter. We can do that. There is someone coming after lunch.
>> let's just call it after lunch. Let's do 46, consider and take appropriate action on options for acquisition of approximately a hundred acres of land near u.s. Highway 183 and loop 360 in precinct 3 for inclusion in the balcones canyonlands preserve. Consultation with attorney and real property exceptions to the open meetings act. And we may as well see if we can get an update, 47, receive briefing from the county attorney and take appropriate action regarding the pending litigation in Travis County Texas and state of Texas versus coldwater development and rodman excavation. Consultation with attorney exception. We will try to discuss these before 12 noon but will come back to open court before taking any action.
>> > we returned from executive session where we discussed three items. We discussed number 38, the matter involving parke properties 1 and 2. I move that we agree to purchase this property for the apraised value of $7.5 million.
>> second.
>> that we authorize the county judge to execute appropriate paperwork to I guess expedite final resolution of this. Is that okay?
>> uh-huh.
>> discussion? All in favor. That passes by unanimous vote. We discussed item 46. We will need a followup discussion this afternoon after legal has had an opportunity to look over a proposed agreement. We also discussed -- so we'll call 46 up when we reconvene this afternoon. In executive session. 47, we discussed, no action today. It will be back on the court's agenda next week just in case we need further discussion and action. Move that we recess until 1:30.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. By the way, Commissioner Gomez who to go the another commitment. Sorry we didn't get to you all.
Ms. Porter, I have us down to executive session. Do you? All right. This morning we announced postponement of 36 and 37. We took action on 38. 39. Receive briefing from county attorney and take appropriate action concerning the extension of administrative leave with pay for juvenile probation employee, slot no. 429. 1 this is under the consultation with attorney and personnel matters exceptions to the open meetings act. 40. Receive briefing from county attorney and take appropriate action concerning the extension of administrative leave with pay for juvenile probation employee, slot no. 436. Consultation with attorney and personnel matters exception to the open meetings act. 41. Consider and take appropriate action on a proposal to acquire open space parkland along onion creek near state highway 71 east with 2005 authorized bond funds, in precinct 4. Consultation with attorney and real property exceptions to the open meetings act. 42. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the selection of person to fill intergovernmental relations coordinator position and related issues. Personnel matters exception to the open meetings act. 43. Consider and take appropriate action regarding potential lease of parking spaces in central Austin. Consultation with attorney and real estate exceptions to the open meetings act. 44. Consider and take appropriate action regarding on -- 44 we announced this morning we will postpone until next week. 45. Receive briefing from county attorney regarding remedies to consider for products received from integrian, inc. Consultation with attorney exception to the open meetings act. This morning we did discussion 46, didn't we? Uh-huh.
>> and conclude that we would have it back on the agenda next week, just in case we need it. And we got a briefing on number 47, the matter involving coldwater development and rodman. We will discuss these matters in executive session but will return to open court before taking any action.
(missing captions for very beginning of return from Executive Session) Of leave with pay for this employee.
>> second. Would that -- and that would be ending today?
>> ending today, yes, sir.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Item 40 involving the employee in slot number 436 of the juvenile probation department. I move we grant an additional eight days, which will carry them through October 31st, 2008.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Item number 41 involves the potential opportunity to acquire open space parkland along onion creek in precinct 4. I move that we direct staff to continue to negotiate with the property owner, indicate the county's strong desire to reach terms and conditions that are satisfactory -- they are owners of the property as well as Travis County.
>> second.
>> and that staff but it back to court's agenda for followup discussion and action when appropriate. Discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Number 42 is the matter involving our selection of a person to fill the intergovernmental relation coordinator position. I move that we set mr. Eckstein's salary at $90,000, that we authorize facilities to make available one parking space which will leave his executive assistant when hired without a parking space; that we authorize the county judge to work with appropriate county staff and mr. Eckstein to get the other business-related equipment, cell phones, furniture that's necessary, computer, et cetera.
>> second.
>> discussion? That we ask him to begin his employment at Travis County on Monday, November 24th, 2008. Let's incorporate that into the motion. Is that all right for the seconder?
>> uh-huh.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Number 43, the partial lease of parking spaces in central Austin, I move that we authorize facilities staff to contract with the owner of the property located at 301 west 13th street for the county to lease 20 parking spots at a cost of $100 each per month.
>> second.
>> discussion? That this be taken from facilities' budget. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Number 45, the matter involving products Travis County purchase from integ ri. An, staff have been communicating with representatives from this company and I understand that they have reached a mutually satisfactory sort of pilot project where we would allow different modifications to be made to the equipment in question and that we would have an opportunity to see if these modifications are satisfactory and fix the problem. And then if not, we would work with the company on probably a refund.
>> second.
>> [inaudible].
>> okay. Is that the agreement? Representatives?
>> yes, sir, it is.
>> and we've got mr. David childress with us, right?
>> yes.
>> he's the one talking in the background. Then that's even better.
>> second.
>> thank you all for working it out. Seconded by Commissioner Daugherty. Any discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. The other two items I think we discussed -- well, the matter involving one that we discussed this morning, 46, we did ask legal to review the proposed agreement that we had been provided. Legal has done that and is recommending several changes. So I direct that we ask facilities, I'll ask the transportation and natural resources to incorporate changes recommended by the assistant county attorney's office and also authorize that there are be executed by the county judge on behalf of the Commissioners court after the changes have been made. Is that okay?
>> uh-huh. Second.
>> discussion? That will get it down, won't it, john? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. A -- enthusiastic clerk tells us our business is done today.
>> move adjourn.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:38 PM