Remarks by Aarin Hartwell
37 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 23:28
“I understand that it's standard across many municipalities to have the two city council person approval for agenda items, is that correct?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 24:27
“The process that's described under that section as well is, what's the word I'm looking for? It's just a lot of work, a lot of extra work. If I want to put an agenda item on, I can no longer email that. It needs to be in person. I have to hunt down the second person for approval. That's a lot more to do.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 25:10
“on a council meeting day, which I'm fervorously preparing for, typically, because it has to be turned in on that same day. And usually what's happened in the times that I've put an agenda item on here is I have to wait an entire month. So I'm preparing that ahead of time, and then I'm putting that on, asking to put it on the next agenda, or two weeks, sorry.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 25:40
“Well, yeah, we've done that. That's the way we've done it.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 26:00
“Well, thank you. I'm not pointing a finger at anyone. I am merely stating that when I do prepare agenda items, I am under the understanding that if I can't do everything in one day, then I'm waiting two weeks to put it then on the next agenda.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 26:59
“it's it's in that paragraph we've we've actually edited this like ten times well I know I was just going through my notes seeing that okay just making sure that it's still in there because I've looked at so many different copies I've written I don't know how many emails about this but it seems like there's not very many other council members that have questions about this but I think if our constituents have questions and we're still debating it, then why rush this decision? It's a policy-making decision that probably could be workshopped a little bit more so that we are making sure that”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 28:03
“I didn't read anything about it. So we have to pick up a form.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 28:16
“And we're getting signatures on it by emailing it to another council member or tracking somebody down? How does that work?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 31:54
“Does anybody else? Can we just make it one then?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 31:58
“That's okay with me. I'm fine with that.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 33:12
“How can we regulate the speech of an official outside of their official capacity?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 33:47
“But as long as your individual opinions don't have to do with city business or city employee or city official.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 35:19
“can definitely happen I mean I I know that you know what that feels like because you spoke as the mayor at a planning and zoning meeting to about the Bubba Gump's scenario so and you made sure to clarify that you were not speaking in your official capacity when you were there right because I know you know what yeah and it's tough because you're talking about your you know related items and we have that and so there's this whole”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 37:58
“It's a moot point. I mean, it was done. It was perceived. It's the same thing. Exactly. Great example, though.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 39:15
“Yes. Okay, I'll second. Go ahead. I have a question about 13.7, personal political advocacy. A city council member shall not use city letterheads, logos, vehicles, staff, and any type of city resources or city titles for personal or campaign purposes or to promote or endorse a candidate for city office. Does that include a slide and presentations that were developed by city staff? that has letterhead on it, that has logos on it?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 40:04
“Yes, that's. That wasn't my question. My question was pretty specific. So if there was a presentation that was made and sure it was given to the public, can that presentation then be used for campaign purposes?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 40:34
“Well, if it's used in relation to a campaign post, as council member, this is what we've done, and the presentation that I'm using to represent what it is that we've done is something that I'm advocating in my political campaign, is that using city resources, because it sounds like it to me.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 41:32
“Yeah, but the city staff created those presentations and slides. And it has logos, and it is city resources.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 41:46
“Then that would be OK. OK, well. Right? I mean. But then the candidate is using city logos on a presentation that they've created to then use in their candidacy.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 42:03
“So for instance, okay. Where are we having the conversation? Yes, wait, wait, but I'm trying to.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 42:39
“It's very confusing. This is very specific because it has nothing to do with something that is not logoed South Padre Island. It doesn't have anything to do with the monster can. It has everything to do with using city letterheads, logos, vehicles, staff, and any type of city resources for it. That's the point, and that's my question. So we can discuss this question. Sure.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 43:18
“Okay, let's say Wendy and Nikki got together and created a beautiful slideshow about the accomplishments of South Padre Island.”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 43:28
“Okay, can I use that slideshow or presentation on my candidacy page?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 43:39
“That's not considering using city resources or anything?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026
- Play at 43:45
“Yeah, that's why I'm like, yes. And then what's that, I mean, because it was presented publicly, because if, how does that work?”
City Council · Oct 7, 2026