Sweetwater commission approves Civil Air Patrol MOU after removing commissioner's name and securing recusal

The City Commission of the City of Sweetwater on Monday approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Civil Air Patrol to allow the nonprofit to use certain city facilities and equipment, after amending the agreement to remove a named city liaison and noting a commissioner's recusal.

Commission discussion centered on the presence of a commissioner who also represents the Civil Air Patrol. The city attorney said Commissioner Yani "has recused herself on those grounds," and the commission removed the commissioner's name from paragraph 8 of the draft MOU. Instead the commission amended the language to designate the "mayor of the City of Sweetwater or designee" as the city liaison.

Motion to amend the MOU was moved and seconded; the amendment was approved by voice vote and the commission then voted to adopt the amended MOU. The MOU authorizes Civil Air Patrol use of certain city facilities and equipment, and the amendment preserves the commission's ability to appoint a liaison through the mayor.

Commissioners discussed the procedural correction because a commissioner who works with the organization could not sponsor the agreement without creating a conflict of interest. The item was moved from the consent agenda to staff items earlier in the meeting to allow discussion and the attorney's guidance.

The commission took formal action to approve the amended MOU; the vote was recorded by voice and the president declared the motion carried.

The MOU will take effect per the document's terms and the city will designate either the mayor or a mayoral designee to serve as the liaison to the Civil Air Patrol.