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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250212 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes2025 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2025 I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:08 pm. II. Roll Call Commissioners City Staff Ms. Victoria Forsberg Katie Leininger Ms. Shelly Heuser Lawrence G. Provins Mr. Jim Johnson Mr. Gerald L. Koza, Jr. Dr. Alexander Okwonna Mr. E. Craig Slater - Chair Mr. Travis Spiegelhauer III. Consideration and Possible Action: Vote to Accept Minutes of January 29, 2025 Meeting Commissioners agreed to accept the minutes as drafted. IV. Consideration and Possible Action: Discussion and Review of Charter and Proposed Amendments A. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 1. a. Section 1.01— Form of Government i. No issues identified. b. Section 1.02 — Incorporation i. No issues identified. c. Section 1.03 — Annexation for all purposes The Commission discussed annexation without the consent of the inhabitants annexed, as well as current exceptions to the general state law requiring property owner consent for annexation by a municipality. Mr. Provins discussed annexation in the context of MUDs and SPAs. d. Section 1.04 — Detachment of territory i. No issues identified. B. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 2. a. Section 2.01— General i. No issues identified. b. Section 2.02 — General Powers i. No issue identified. c. Section 2.03 — Eminent Domain The Commission discussed the powers and limitations of eminent domain and whether the Charter should include the limitations found in State law and/or additional protections or limitations. The Commission determined that the protections found in State law are sufficient and no additional changes to the Charter are required. ii. No issue identified. C. The Commission generally discussed Article 3. Chair Slater and Commissioner Koza provided information regarding the 2019 CRC's recommendation for an amendment to the Charter designed to extend all Councilmembers' and the Mayor's terms to four (4) years with a lifetime two -term term limit for Councilmembers. The Commission discussed merits and downsides of different lengths of terms for Councilmembers. Commissioner Johnson requested additional information about electronic voting systems, as an alternative to the current roll call voting method. IV. Future Business The Commission agreed to review Article 3 before the next meeting currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 6:00 pm. The Commission agreed to begin discussion of Article 3 during the next meeting and recognized the discussion of Article 3 may continue into a subsequent meeting. The Commission asked for the following information to aid in its duties: 1. Minutes and video recordings from the 2019 City Council meetings at which the 2019 CRC report was presented to Council and at which Council discussed what proposed Charter Amendments to send to the voters for approval 2. Information pertaining to any 2019 City Council discussion of methods for Councilmember voting. 3. Information pertaining to rates of pay for Mayors and/or Councilmembers in other municipalities. 4. Information pertaining to best practices and/or how other municipalities handle excusing Mayors and/or Councilmembers' absences from meetings. 2 Prior to the next meeting, Ms. Leininger will also provide to all Commissioners: 1. Draft minutes from the February 12, 2025, meeting 2. A proposed agenda for the March 5, 2025, meeting 3. Notes from the 2019 CRC's discussion of Article 3 of the City's Charter. 4. Texas Home Rule Charters information from the Texas Municipal League. V. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 pm. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected on /70' J , 2025.