HomeMy WebLinkAbout210526 CC MinThe City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL STAFF
Bob Higley, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager
Kevin Trautner, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, Olson and Olson, City Attorney
John P. Barnes, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary
Lauri Lankford, Councilmember
Ed Sobash, Councilmember
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in a virtual special meeting on Wednesday,
May 26, 2021, at 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of considering the agenda of items listed.
Agenda as follows:
1. Call Special Meeting to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Higley called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Councilmembers Barnes, Lankford and
Sobash attended. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner and Councilmember Lankford were absent.
All Department Directors attended.
2. Certificates of Election
Mayor Higley will present the Certificates of Election to the newly elected mayor and council.
Mayor Higley presented the newly elected Council with their Certificate of Election.
3. Swearing-in Ceremony for Mayor and City Councilmembers
Matters related to the administration of the Oaths of Office to the newly elected mayor and council.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey will perform the ceremony.
Commissioner Ramsey administered the newly elected Council their Statement of Appointed Officer and
Oath of Office.
4. Presentation of Gifts to Outgoing Mayor and Councilmembers
City Manager Beach presented the gift to Mayor Higley.
5. Comments from Outgoing and Incoming Mayor and Councilmembers
Mayor Higley spoke to say this Council began meeting before taking office, which gave them a head
start on strategic visioning and goal setting. He said Council had 94 goals and substantially completed
84, twenty-four of which were priority, and the others will be complete by the end of the year.
Mayor Higley said Council analyzed each issue and organized assets during a time unlike any time in
the history of the City. He said in addition to hurricane seasons, Council dealt with the pandemic, which
cost the Parks Department $850,000 in revenue.
City Council Meeting Minutes, May 26, 2021
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Mayor Higley recognized the work and contributions of Council, staff, and boards and commissions, and
said he feels this Council is turning over a ship that is sea worthy.
Councilmember Barnes seconded Mayor Higley’s comments and extended gratitude for his leadership.
He said by working together Council managed to be an effective team, achieve consensus on most
issues, and drive towards the best results for the public. Councilmember Barnes said he is extremely
grateful to the mayor, Lauri Lankford, Ed Sobash and Kevin Trautner who served with him. He said
learned a lot from all of them and he looks forward to working with the incoming councilmembers and
applying lessons learned over the past two years.
Councilmember Sobash spoke and congratulated the incoming Council and said he supports each of
them. To the outgoing Council, Councilmember Sobash said Mayor Higley and Councilmember Barnes
said most of what he was going to say and added that he really enjoyed time together with Council and
is proud of what they accomplished. He thanked City staff and his family.
Incoming Council Comments
Mayor Sample thanked Mayor Higley for his leadership and leaving the City in a good state for the
incoming Council. She said she is happy to serve the community again and she is ready to listen and
move forward. She said she is grateful to everyone that supported her and the community.
Councilmember Montgomery spoke and thanked his family, both Councils and their families and said he
is looking forward to the next two years and working for the City.
Councilmember Bell thanked the outgoing mayor and council and said she thinks they left the City in a
great place and said she looks forward to serving the community and addressing any challenges as a
community.
Councilmember Carroll thanked the outgoing mayor and council and the citizens of West U who voted
and made their voices heard. She said she looks forward to working with this mayor and Council to
represent the community in the best way possible over the next two years.
6. Adjourn
With no other business before the Council, Mayor Higley and the Councilmembers present moved and
seconded in unison to adjourn the meeting at approximately 6:05 p.m. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Barnes, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: Trautner, Lankford
Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: June 14, 2021