The first City Council meeting for the City of Sandy Oaks was held on August 16, 2014. The meeting was held at the Waterwood Park clubhouse, however the address on the meeting’s agenda was listed as 4418 Hickory Haven, which is a private residence next door to the park.
Cathleen Lamoureaux-Recio, former candidate for City Council, brought a complaint forward before the meeting was started. She noted that Art Martinez de Vara was seated with the City Council with an official placard that stated he was the City Attorney, even though the position hadn’t been created yet and the Council hadn’t approved him. At the time, Martinez de Vara had already been the legal adviser to CISO, and WPPOA, both of which were run by the new Mayor, Jim Clement. Martinez de Vara was asked to step down until the Council was ready to address the issue of City Attorney.
Patrick Andrews of the Southeast Church of Christ gave the invocation at the start of the meeting.
Attendance
- Mayor Clement
- Alderman Ball
- Alderman Gay
- Alderman Ortega
- Alderman Tomasini
- Alderman Tremblay
- Art Martinez de Vara
- Von Ormy Marshal Tiffany Aguillen
- Charlotte Rabe
Establishing Robert’s Rules of Order
The Council approved Ordinance 2014-1, which established Robert’s Rules of Order as the official conduct of Council meetings.
Gay motioned to accpet
Ortega 2nded
Vote was unanimous 5-0
Establishing procedures related to council agendas and meetings
An issue was raised about the posting of the official agenda for the meeting. It had been posted on the clubhouse door, which resided on a private property that required a key-card to pass through a security gate to access. It was argued that citizens who lived inside the city but outside the Waterwood subdivision didn’t have 72 hour prior access to the meeting agenda which meant that the meeting didn’t comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act law.
Mayor Clement stated he posted he agenda at different locations, including Jack’s Corner Store, but did not provide evidence of doing so.
Alderman Ball Motioned to cancel the meeting due to improper notice.
Alderman Tremblay 2nded.
The same 2 voted in favor, the other 3, Gay, Ortega, and Tomasini, voted against, so the meeting continued.
The Council did not address the issue that the mailing address of the meeting location was listed wrong on the agenda.
Alderman Tomasini 2nded
Lease agreement between the City and Waterwood Park Property Owners Association
___ “conflict”___
Gay motioned to postpone the the resolution
Ball 2nded
Vote was unanimous
Hiring Art Martinez de Vara as Attorney
Electing Gay as Mayor Pro Tempore
Ortega nominated Gay, who received 2 votes.
Ball nominated Tremblay, who received 1 vote.
Gay was given the oath of office and sworn in after the meeting was over.
Official city newspaper contract
Gay motioned to contract with La Prensa to be the city’s official newspaper of record
Tremblay 2nded
Vote was unanimous.
Converting the office of City Marshal to an appointed position
Gay motioned to move change the elected position of Marshal into an appointed position.
Ortega 2nded.
Vote was unanimous
VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority and related sales taxes
Gay motioned to place on an election ballot a vote to be removed from VIA MTA county sales tax.
Ortega 2nded
Vote was 3-2, with SOPAC members voting in favor and Ball and Tremblay voting against.
Placing Sales Tax on election ballot
Gay motioned to place a 1/2 % sales tax for street maintenance on the November 2014 ballot.
Tomasini 2nded.
Vote was 4-1, with Ball voting against.
According to the agenda, Mayor Clement had planned on discussing and considering a 1.5% sales tax for a General Use Fund. Martinez de Vara, who was then City Attorney for Sandy Oaks, said the tax would need to be 2 separate taxes on the ballot, one for 1% and the other for a 1.2%.
Gay motioned to place a 1% sales tax for a General Fund Use on the November 2014 ballot.
Tomasini 2nded.
Vote was 4-1, with Ball voting against.
Gay motioned to place a 1/2% sales tax for a General Fund Use on the November 2014 ballot.
Tomasini 2nded.
Vote was 4-1, with Ball voting against.
Resolution of gratitude for the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks
This item was on the meeting agenda, but was not discussed. When Mayor Clement started to talk about it Alderman Gay told him it wouldn’t be the best time, so Clement moved on.
Setting a date for the Budget Hearing
This item was on the agenda, but was not addressed.
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